Related papers: A trick to ensure positive Mordell-Weil rank

Given a curve X of the form y^p = h(x) over a number field, one can use descents to obtain explicit bounds on the Mordell-Weil rank of the Jacobian or to prove that the curve has no rational points. We show how, having performed such a…

We present a method for computing the Mordell-Weil rank of the jacobian of a curve of genus 2 with multiplication by a square root of 2, based on descent via isogenies of degree 2, and apply it to a family of curves.

We discuss the Mordell-Weil sieve as a general technique for proving results concerning rational points on a given curve. In the special case of curves of genus 2, we describe quite explicitly how the relevant local information can be…

Let $f \in \mathbb Q[x]$ be a square-free polynomial of degree at least $3$, $m_i$, $i=1,2,3$, odd positive integers, and $a_i$, $i=1,2,3$, non-zero rational numbers. We show the existence of a rational function…

We study deformations of rational curves and their singularities in positive characteristic. We use this to prove that if a smooth and proper surface in positive characteristic $p$ is dominated by a family of rational curves such that one…

We study the structure of the Mordell--Weil group of elliptic curves over number fields of degree 2, 3, and 4. We show that if $T$ is a group, then either the class of all elliptic curves over quadratic fields with torsion subgroup $T$ is…

Consider a smooth, geometrically irreducible, projective curve of genus $g \ge 2$ defined over a number field of degree $d \ge 1$. It has at most finitely many rational points by the Mordell Conjecture, a theorem of Faltings. We show that…

We prove a completely explicit and effective upper bound for the N\'eron--Tate height of rational points of curves of genus at least $2$ over number fields, provided that they have enough automorphisms with respect to the Mordell--Weil rank…

Let $k$ be a number field. We investigate the Mordell-Weil ranks of Jacobian varieties $J_C$ associated with algebraic curves $C$ of genus $g \geq 1$ defined by affine equations of the form $y^s=x(ax^r+b)$, where $a, b \in k$ ($ab \neq 0$),…

We consider elliptic surfaces whose coefficients are degree $2$ polynomials in a variable $T$. It was recently shown that for infinitely many rational values of $T$ the resulting elliptic curves have rank at least $1$. In this article, we…

We study the family of algebraic curves of genus $\geq 1$ defined by the affine equations $y^s=ax^r+b$ over a number field $k$, where $r \geq 2$ and $s\geq 2$ are fixed integers. Assuming the strong version of Lang's conjecture on varieties…

In general, algorithms for computing the Selmer group of the Jacobian of a curve have relied on either homogeneous spaces or functions on the curve. We present a theoretical analysis of algorithms which use functions on the curve, and show…

Let $k$ denote an algebraically closed field. We revisit a construction of the author of families of elliptic curves over the rational function field $k(t)$. Combining a combinatorial analysis with a rank formula of Ulmer we prove that, for…

In this work we study quantitative existence results for genus-$2$ curves over $\mathbb{Q}$ whose Jacobians have Mordell-Weil rank at least $1$ or $2$, ordering the curves by the naive height of their integral Weierstrass models. We use…

Consider a one-parameter family of smooth, irreducible, projective curves of genus $g\ge 2$ defined over a number field. Each fiber contains at most finitely many rational points by the Mordell Conjecture, a theorem of Faltings. We show…

We observe that there are elliptic curves over number fields all of whose quadratic twists must have positive rank, assuming the Birch-Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture. We give a classification of such curves in terms of their local behaviour,…

Let $C$ be a smooth projective absolutely irreducible curve of genus $g \geq 2$ over a number field $K$ of degree $d$, and denote its Jacobian by $J$. Denote the Mordell--Weil rank of $J(K)$ by $r$. We give an explicit and practical…

Consider the scheme parametrizing non-constant morphisms from a fixed projective curve to a projective surface. There is a rational map between this scheme and the Chow variety of $1$-cycles on the surface. We prove that, if the curve is…

Suppose $C$ is a smooth projective curve of genus 1 over a perfect field $F$, and $E$ is its Jacobian. In the case that $C$ has no $F$-rational points, so that $C$ and $E$ are not isomorphic, $C$ is an $E$-torsor with a class $\delta(C)\in…

This note gives the complete projective classification of rational, cuspidal plane curves of degree at least 6, and having only weighted homogeneous singularities. It also sheds new light on some previous characterizations of free and…