3-SELMER GROUP, IDEAL CLASS GROUPS AND CUBE SUM

PROBLEM

SOMNATH JHA, DIPRAMIT MAJUMDAR AND PRATIKSHA SHINGAVEKAR

arXiv:2207.12487v1 [math.NT] 25 Jul 2022

Abstract. Given an elliptic curve E over a number field F and an isogeny ϕ of E

defined over F , the study of the ϕ-Selmer group has a rich history going back to the
works of Cassels and the recent works of Bhargava et al. and Chao Li. Let E/Q be an
elliptic curve with a rational 3-isogeny. In this article, we give an upper bound and a
lower bound of the rank of the Selmer group of E over Q(ζ3 ) induced by the 3-isogeny in
terms of the 3-part of the ideal class group of certain quadratic extension of Q(ζ3 ). Using
our bounds on the Selmer groups, we prove some cases of Sylvester’s conjecture on the
rational cube sum problem and also exhibit infinitely many elliptic curves of arbitrary
large 3-Selmer rank over Q(ζ3 ). Our method also produces infinitely many imaginary
quadratic fields and biquadratic fields with non-trivial 3-class groups.

Introduction
In this article, we explore the relation between (3-isogeny induced) Selmer group of an
elliptic curve and the (3 part of) the ideal class group, over certain number fields and
apply this to a classical Diophantine problem related to rational cube sum.
Given an elliptic curve E over a number field F and an isogeny φ : E → E, the study
of φ-Selmer group of E over F (Definition 1.2) goes back to Cassels [Ca3] and has many
important contributions. The recent works of Bhargava et al., Mazur-Rubin and others on
the n-Selmer group of an elliptic curve have made a significant impact on the arithmetic
of the elliptic curve. In [BES], they determine the average size of the φa -Selmer group of
Ea : Y 2 = X 3 + a over Q, where a ∈ Z varies and φa is a rational 3-isogeny (see §1, Type I
curves). On the other hand, giving an upper bound to an isogeny-induced Selmer group
by the ideal class group has been investigated by Cassels, Brumer-Kramer and others.
More generally, an algorithm to determine the isogeny-induced Selmer group is given in
[SS]. Recently, given an elliptic curve E : Y 2 = F (X) over Q, such that the cubic F (X) is
irreducible and has negative, square-free discriminant, Li [Li, Theorem 2.18] has given an
upper and a lower bound for the 2-Selmer group of E/Q, in terms of the 2-torsion of the
ideal class group of Q[X]/(F (X)).
Let E/Q be an elliptic curve and ϕ = ϕE,Eb : E → Eb be a rational isogeny of degree
3. Then the equation of E can be expressed either in the form of a ‘Type I curve’
Ea : Y 2 = X 3 + a or of a ‘Type II curve’ Ea,b : Y 2 = X 3 + a(X − b)2 (see §1). Let us
assume for now that a is not a square in K = Q(ζ3 ) (in fact, we also cover the case where
a ∈ K 2 ). In this article, we give an upper bound and a lower bound of the F3 -dimension of
Selϕ (E/K), the ϕ-Selmer group of E over K = Q(ζ3 ) in terms of the 3-part of the S-class
√
group of Q(ζ3 , a). Here S is a set of primes of bad reduction of E over K (Definitions
3.13, 4.11). Using such bounds for ϕ and ϕ b Selmer groups, we also get the corresponding
upper and lower bounds for the 3-Selmer group Sel3 (E/K). We also indicate the upper
2020 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 11G05, 11R29, 11R34; Secondary 11G40, 11S25.
Key words and phrases. Elliptic curves, 3-Selmer groups, Ideal class groups, Sylvester’s conjecture.
1
bounds for dimF3 Selϕ (E/Q) and dimF3 Sel3 (E/Q), in terms of the 3-class group of suitable
quadratic field, via similar methods.
The first set of major results of this article, giving such upper and lower bounds, are
Theorem 3.15 (for Type I curves) and Theorem 4.14 (for Type II curves). We then go on
to sharpen these bounds using various arithmetic properties of elliptic curves. We give a
sample of such refined bounds for Type II curves below and refer to Theorem 3.22 for a
similar result for Type I curves:
Theorem 0.1. [Corollary 4.17] Let Ea,b : Y 2 = X 3 + a(X − b)2 with a, b ∈ Z and ab(4a +
27b) 6= 0 and Ψa,b be the K-rational isogeny of degree 3, defined in (17) (also see §1). Put
L = La := K[X]/(X 2 − a). Let S1 , S2 , S3 be a set of primes of bad reduction of Ea,b over
K defined in 4.11 and similarly the set Si,j (L) is defined in 4.12. For a finite set of finite
primes S(L) of L, OS(L) denotes the ring of S(L) integers in L and set h3S(L) to be the
3-rank of the ideal class group of OS(L) . Assume a ∈/ K ∗2 and 3 ∤ a, then
max{h3S1,2 (L) , h3S1,3 (L) + |S3 | − |S2 | − 1} ≤ dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K)
≤ min{h3S1,2 (L) + |S1,2 (L)| + |S3 | − |S2 | + 1, h3S1,3 (L) + |S1,3 (L)| + 2}.
In particular, if S1 , S2 and S3 are empty, then dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ∈ {h3L , h3L + 1}. 
Since there is a rational isogeny ϕ : E → Eb of degree 3, the residual representation
E[3](Q) is a reducible GQ module and giving a 3-isogeny is equivalent to having a GQ stable
subgroup of order 3 in E(Q). As explained in §1, for both Type I and Type II curves, we
√
may assume that this subgroup of order 3 is generated by (0, ± a). Thus, corresponding
to Selϕ (E/K), one naturally associates the quadratic étale algebra La := K[X]/(X 2 − a).
Norm
An important observation is that H 1 (GK , E[ϕ]) ∼ = Ker(L∗a /L∗3 ∗ ∗3
a −→ K /K ) (Prop. 1.1)
and there is a similar description of the local Galois cohomology groups appearing in the
definition of Selϕ (E/K). It then reduces to do explicit computations of the image of the
local Kummer maps and apply some algebraic number theory (see §2, Props. 2.15 and
2.16) to arrive at the bounds.
This is a general strategy (cf. [SS]). However as stated in Theorem 0.1, following [Li]’s
approach for 2-Selmer group, we give a (sharp) lower bound for Selϕ (E/K) and Sel3 (E/K)
using the 3-class group of La . Other than the lower bound, we point out some other
novel aspects of the bounds given here in Remarks 3.19, 3.25. In general, the idea here is
to make the bounds on dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) and dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K), in terms of 3-class groups,
sharper via more explicit and possibly easier computations. For example, the computation
of the Kummer map for the Selmer group of degree 3-isogeny at a prime over 3 is always
more delicate and here, to avoid calculating the explicit generators for the image of the
Kummer map at p | 3 in K, we do the following: For the lower bound, we introduce two
∗
new sets V3 and VKp defined using the unit group OK p
(Definitions 2.3, 2.5). As for the
upper bound, we consider the norm-1 subgroup of Ap /A∗3 ∗
p (Definition 2.1). Note that to
give a (possibly non-trivial) lower bound for Selφ (E/K) using class groups, it is essential
that La contains ζ3 (see Props. 2.15) and hence we primarily base our results for Selmer
groups defined over K rather than Q.
Indeed, to demonstrate the bounds via 3-class groups are sharp, we give some examples
(see Examples 1-4, §3.3) where dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) and dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) attain their respec-
tive upper and lower bounds given in Theorem 3.22. In fact, in Theorem 3.22, we discuss
some cases where dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) is precisely determined by the upper and lower bounds
and the root number of Ea over Q. Also, we have examples in Table 2 where our lower
bound h3Sa (L) for dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) satisfies h3Sa (L) > rank Ea (K) (and similarly for Ea,b in
2
Table 3). In several arguments, equation (11), which is in fact valid for a general isogeny,
is used.
These bounds on Selmer group have applications to the rational cube sum problem.
A classical Diophantine problem (see [Syl], [Sl]) asks the question: which integers D can
be expressed as a sum of two rational cubes? It is well-known that a cube-free integer
D > 2 satisfies x3 + y 3 = D, with x, y ∈ Q ⇔ rk E−432D2 (Q) > 0. Also it is easy to see that
rk E−432D2 (Q) = rk E16D2 (Q). Thus D > 2 is a rational cube sum ⇔ rk E16D2 (Q) > 0.
Note that E16D2 : Y 2 = X 3 + 16D2 is a cubic twist by D of the curve E16 : y 2 = x3 + 16.
Let ℓ be a rational prime. Then the special cases of cube sum problem for ℓ, ℓ2 and 2ℓ
are inspired by Sylvester’s conjecture (cf. [DV], [Syl]). Other than various classical results,
there are recent works like [DV], [CST], [KL], [SY]. In these works, they consider cube
sum problem for one of the pairs ℓ, ℓ2 or 2ℓ, 2ℓ2 or 3ℓ, 3ℓ2 with the prime ℓ chosen in some
specific congruence class modulo 9 and use some argument involving either construction
of Heegner points or the 3-part of the BSD conjecture for the specific curve (see Remark
5.13). Note that the cube sum problem for 2ℓ with ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3) and for ℓ ≡ ±1 (mod 9),
is not considered in these references.
In this article (§5.1), we consider the cube sum problem for ℓ, 2ℓ, ℓ2 for all prime ℓ ≥ 5.
Our method and proofs are different than the above-mentioned works. We first com-
pute dimF3 Selφ (E16D2 /K) (Theorems 5.1-5.4). To do this, first we compute the bound
for dimF3 Selφ (E16D2 /K) using our previous results and then we obtain some potential
candidates as generators of the Selmer group, which we verify by hand with explicit com-
putation. Next we exploit the relation between the φ-Selmer group, the 3-Selmer group,
E16D2 (K) and X(E16D2 /K) and their counterparts over Q to compute rk E16D2 (Q) in Corol-
laries 5.5-5.7. We demonstrate a part of our result as follows:

Theorem 0.2. (1) If ℓ ≡ 2, 5 (mod 9), then rk E16ℓ2 (Q) = rk E16ℓ4 (Q) = 0 i.e. neither
ℓ nor ℓ2 is a rational cube sum.
(2) If ℓ ≡ 5 (mod 9), then rk Eℓ2 (Q) = 0 i.e. 2ℓ is not a rational

cube sum.
2
(3) If ℓ ≡ 1, 7 (mod 9) and the cubic residue symbol πℓ 3 6= 1, then rk Eℓ2 (Q) = 0 i.e.
2ℓ is not a rational cube sum. (Here πℓ | ℓ is a suitably chosen prime in K.)
In all of these cases, X(E16D2 /Q)[3] = X(E16D2 /K)[3] = 0 for D ∈ {ℓ, 2ℓ}. 

Theorem 0.3. Let dimF3 X(E16D2 /Q)[3] be even, for D ∈ {ℓ, 2ℓ}. We have
(1) If ℓ ≡ 4, 7, 8 (mod 9), then rk E16ℓ2 (Q) = rk E16ℓ4 (Q) = 1 i.e. both ℓ and ℓ2 are
rational cube sums.
(2) If ℓ ≡ 2, 4, 8 (mod 9), then rk Eℓ2 (Q) = 1 i.e. 2ℓ is a rational cube sum.
In all of these cases, X(E16D2 /Q)[3] = X(E16D2 /K)[3] = 0. 

We refer to Corollaries (see Corollaries 5.5, 5.6, 5.7) in §5.1 where the other cases of
cube sum problem for D ∈ {ℓ, ℓ2 , 2ℓ} with ℓ a prime, are considered. From the Cassels-
Tate pairing, it follows that dimF3 X(E16D2 /Q)[3] is even if and only if X(E16D2 /Q)[3∞ ] ∼
=

2t
Q3 /Z3 for some t ≥ 0 (see Remark 5.10). Also, in Remark 5.8, we point out (via an
ad-hoc method) that for some special choices of D, the assumption on dimF3 X(E16D2 /Q)[3]
can be bypassed.
We mention that our method can be extended to examine if some other integers D ∈ N
are rational cube sums and we hope to address this in a future article.
Recall, via the fundamental exact sequence
0 −→ E(K)/pE(K) → Selp (E/K) → X(E/K)[p] → 0, (1)
3
the p-Selmer group ‘captures’ both E(K)/p(E(K)) and X(E/K)[p]. Thus finding a large
Selmer group is of considerable interest and is studied extensively. As an application of
Theorem 0.1, for every n ∈ N, we exhibit infinitely many non-isomorphic Type II curves
Ea,b such that dimF3 Sel3 (Ea,b /K) ≥ dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ≥ 2n (Theorem 5.16). The curves
Ea,b in our result have Ea,b (K)[3] = 0 and j(Ea,b /K) 6= 0. In Remark 5.17, we compare this
result in Theorem 5.16 with the results in [Ca1], [KS] and recent work of Bhargava et al.
[BKOS].
Let c, n be coprime integers and F be a given number field. Then there is a well-known
conjecture (Conjecture 5.20) that rank Cl(Fe )[n] remains unbounded as Fe varies over degree
c extensions of F . This conjecture is wide open [BG] and only a few cases are known.
Using our bounds on Selmer groups, we discuss a result which can be viewed as a modest
evidence towards this conjecture: For any given n ∈ N, we produce in Corollary 5.22,
distinct imaginary quadratic fields F1 , F2 , · · · , Fn such that the 3-part of their ideal class
group Cl(Fi )[3] 6= 0, ∀i ≤ n. A similar result for bi-quadratic fields is also given in Theorem
5.21. Note that using different (geometric) methods, these results were known [BG].
The article is structured as follows: In §1, we discuss the basic setup of 3-isogeny, fix the
notation and give an explicit description of Selmer groups using Prop. 1.1. In §2, we collect
purely algebraic results over number
fields that are needed later. We introduce and discuss
properties of objects like A∗ /A∗3 N =1 , VKp , V3 in this section. For any finite set S of finite
primes of K, we define two ‘abstract’ F3 vector spaces M (S, a), N (S, a) that corresponds to
the lower and upper bound respectively. We then calculate their dimension in Prop. 2.15.
The theory of Type I curves Ea is contained in §3. At first, we discuss the image of the
Kummer map outside 3 and then at primes dividing 3. Using these and results from §2,
we obtain the bounds for the Selmer group of Ea in §3.2 and further sharpen them in §3.3.
Type II curves Ea,b are discussed in §4 and the structure of this section runs parallel to the
§3. The main results are Theorem 4.14 and Corollary 4.17. We discuss applications of our
results in §5, which is divided into three subsections. In §5.1, we consider the rational cube
sum problem and prove some cases of Sylvester’s conjecture. Next, §5.2 contains results
about arbitrary large 3-Selmer ranks of a suitably chosen family of Type II curves. Finally,
in §5.3 we prove results about an infinite family of bi-quadratic fields having non-trivial
3-torsion in their ideal class groups. Numerical examples of bounds on Selmer groups are
displayed in Tables 2, 3.
Acknowledgements: S. Jha is supported by the SERB grant MTR/2019/000996. The
numerical computations were done using SageMath 9.4 and Magma.

1. The Basic Set-up

Let E be an elliptic curve over Q and we may assume E : y 2 = f (x), where f (x) ∈ Q[X]
is monic of degree 3. Let C be a subgroup of order 3 in E(Q) stable under the action of
GQ := Gal(Q/Q). Then C = {O, (α, β), (α, −β)} with α ∈ Q and β 2 ∈ Q [To, p. 3]. By a
change of co-ordinate (if necessary), we may√assume √ that α = 0. If E is now represented
by y = x + rx + sx + t, then C = {O, (0, t), (0, − t)} with s2 = 4rt. If s = 0, we see
2 3 2

that r = 0, hence E is of the form y 2 = x3 + t, t ∈ Z. We call these elliptic curves of

Type I. If s 6= 0, then by change of variables, if necessary, the equation of E takes the
form y 2 = x3 + a(x − b)2 , with a, b ∈ Z and ab(4a + 27b) 6= 0. We call these elliptic curves
of Type II. In either case, we obtain a rational 3-isogeny from E → E/C, which we now
describe explicitly, following [Vé]: √
Curves of Type I : Ea : Y 2 = X 3 + a, a 6= 0. It is well-known that Ea has CM by Z[ −3]
and j(Ea ) = 0. Using [Vé], we get that Ea /C is again a Type I curve given by E−27a . Thus,
4
  3

x3 +4a y(x −8a)
we obtain a rational 3-isogeny φa : Ea → E−27a given by φa (x, y) = x2 , x3 and
 3 3

the corresponding dual isogeny φba : E−27a → Ea is given by φba (x, y) = x −108a
9x2 , y(x 27x
+216a)
3 .
Note that if 27 | a, then the Weierstrass equation for E−27a is not minimal. In any case,
1
we consider Eba : y 2 = x3 + aα2 , where α2 = −27, if 27 ∤ a and α2 = − 27 , if 27 | a. In case
b
if 27 | a, we can appropriately modify φa and φa to obtain the corresponding isogenies.
∼
For any number field F and 0 6= c ∈ F , it is easy to see that Ec6 a −→ Ea over F .
Following this, without any loss of generality, in this article we will consider the curves
Ea over F ∈ {K = Q(ζ3 ), Q} with a is sixth-power free in F ∈ {K, Q}. Thus, Ea and E ba
2 3
are isomorphic over K via (x, y) 7→ (p x, p y), where p = 1 − ζ3 . Thus, we get a 3-isogeny
φ : Ea → Ea over K, given by
 x3 + 4a y(x3 − 8a) 
φ(x, y) = , . (2)
p2 x2 p3 x3

Curves of Type II : Ea,b : Y 2 = X 3 + a(X − b)2 , ab(4a + 27b) 6= 0. Again, we have a ra-
y
tional 3-isogeny ψ : Ea,b → Ea,b /C. Via a change of variables (x, y) 7→ ( x9 − 4a 3 , 27 ),
we can identify Ea,b /C with Eba,b := E−27a,4a+27b . Thus, we obtain a rational 3-isogeny
ba,b given by
ψa,b : Ea,b → E
 9(x3 + 4 ax2 − 4abx + 4ab2 ) 27y(x3 + 4abx − 8ab2 ) 
3
ψa,b (x, y) = , . (3)
x2 x3
Put d = 4a + 27b. Then the corresponding dual isogeny ψba,b : Eba,b → Ea,b is given by,
 x3 − 36ax2 + 108adx − 108ad2 y(x3 − 108adx + 216ad2 ) 
ψba,b (x, y) = , . (4)
34 x2 36 x3
∼
Note that Eac2 ,bc2 −→ Ea,b over K for any c ∈ K and so without any loss of generality,
we assume that gcd(a, b) is squarefree in K. Further, observe that with c = 27, ψba,b =
∼
θ27 ◦ ψ−27a,d , where θ27 : E36 a,36 b −→ Ea,b .
4 12 2 3
As ∆(E−27a,d ) = −2 3 a bd , the equation for E−27a,d is not a minimal Weierstrass
equation over K. Later, we will choose a convenient isomorphism θ : Eba,b → Eba,b defined
over K and consider the K-rational 3-isogenies, Ψa,b := θ−1 ◦ ψa,b : Ea,b → Eba,b and Ψ b a,b :=
ψba,b ◦ θ : E
ba,b → Ea,b . The map θ is chosen such that E ba,b is minimal over Kp (see (17) for
an explicit description of θ).
We describe the isogenies associated with Type I and Type II curves with some examples.
Example 1: Consider the elliptic curve E5 : y 2 = x3 + 5 (LMFDB label 2700.l2). Using
duplication formula, √ we see that
√ this curve has a unique GQ -invariant subgroup of order 3,
namely C = {O, (0, 5), (0, − 5)}. As explained above, we get a 3-isogeny of Type I curves
φ5 : E5 → E−135 and also a K-rational 3-isogeny φ : E5 → E5 as defined in (2).
Example 2: Consider the curve 4700.e1 √ in LMFDB. √ This curve has a unique GQ -
invariant subgroup of order 3, C√′ = {O, (2,√ 5), (2, − 5)}. The translation (x, y) 7→ (x+ 2, y),
transforms C ′ into C = {O, (0, 5), (0, − 5)} and the equation of 4700.e1 takes the form
E5,1 : y 2 = x3 + 5x2 − 10x + 5. By the method explained above, we get a 3-isogeny of Type
II curves ψ5,1 : E5,1 → E−135,47 .
Example 3: Consider the curve E2 : y 2 = x3 + 2 (1728.n2 in √ LMFDB).√There are two
GQ -invariant
√
subgroups
√
of order 3 of E 2 , namely C 1 = {O, (0, 2), (0, − 2)} and C2 =
{O, (−2, −6), (−2, − −6)}. Using C1 , we get a 3-isogeny of Type I curves φ2 : E2 → E−54 .
√ √
On the other hand, τ : (x, y) 7→ (x − 2, y) transforms C2 to {O, (0, c), (0, − c)} and E2 into
the Type II curve E−6,1 : y 2 = x3 − 6x2 + 12x − 6 and we √ have a 3-isogeny of Type II curves
ψ−6,1 : E−6,1 → E162,3 . Note that in this case L = Q(ζ, 2) = Q(E2 [3]).
5
 Notation: For any set S, |S| denotes its cardinality. For a multiplicative group G,
define the subgroup G3 := {x3 | x ∈ G}. For an abelian group A and n ∈ N, define
A[n] := {x ∈ A | nx = 0}.
• F an arbitrary number field, ΣF the set of all finite places of F . For a finite subset S of
ΣF , OS denotes the ring of S-integers in F . For ̟ ∈ ΣF , F̟ will denote the completion
of F at ̟ and√its ring of integers will be denoted by OF̟ .
• ζ = ζ3 = −1+2 −3 a primitive third root of unity, K = Q(ζ) and OK = Z[ζ] the ring of
integers of K. We will generally denote by q a finite prime of K.
• (p) = (1 − ζ) the unique prime of K above 3 with uniformizer p = 1 − ζ in OKp . By abuse
of notation, we simply write p for the ideal (p) of K.
K[X]
• L = La = (X 2 −a) . Thus L/K is a quadratic field extension if a ∈ / K ∗2 . Otherwise,
L∼ = K × K if a ∈ K . ∗2

• A = (XOK [X]
2 −a) . Thus A is the ring of integers OL of L if a ∈ / K ∗2 . Otherwise, A ∼= OK × OK
∗2
if a ∈ K .
K [X]
• Next, we define the quadratic étale Kq -algebras: Lq = (Xq2 −a) . Thus Lq /Kq is a quadratic
field extension, if a ∈ / K ∗2 ; otherwise, Lq ∼
= Kq × Kq , if a ∈ Kq∗2 .
( q
OK [X] ∼ OL , where Q ∈ ΣL and Q | q, if a ∈
Aq = / Kq∗2 ,
Q
• Aq = (X 2q−a) ; thus
Aq ∼
= OK × OK ,
q q if a ∈ K ∗2 . q
• NL/K : L → K denotes the field norm if L is field and the multiplication of co-ordinates
if L ∼
= K × K. A similar notation is followed for Lq and Kq .
Let E/Q and E/Q b be elliptic curves with Q-rational 3-isogenies ϕ : E → E b and ϕb:
b
E → E. Upto a change of variables as explained above, we can assume that E and E b
2
are both Type I curves or both Type II curves. Let E : y = x + ax + bx + c and 3 2

Eb : y 2 = x3 + a′ x2 + b′ x + c′ . Let F be a field of characteristic 0. To ϕ and ϕb we associate

two mirror étale F -algebras of degree 2, Feϕb := (XF2[X]−c )
′ , eϕ := F 2[X] .
F (X −c)

e
F
Proposition 1.1. There is an isomorphism of group schemes E[ϕ] ∼
= Ker(ResFϕb µ3 → µ3 ),
and an induced isomorphism
H 1 (GF , E[ϕ]) ∼
= (Feϕb∗ /Feϕb∗3 )N =1 ,

where (Feϕb∗ /Feϕb∗3 )N =1 denotes the kernel of the norm map N Feϕb /F : Feϕb∗ /Feϕb∗3 → F ∗ /F ∗3 . The
same statement holds if we replace (E, ϕ) by (E, b ϕ).
b
Proof. The proof of [BES, Prop. 24] extends easily and the details are omitted. 

If F contains ζ, then from §1, c/c′ = −27t2 for some t ∈ F and hence, Fe := Feϕ ∼= Feϕb.
b be elliptic curves over F and ϕ : E → E
Let E, E b be an isogeny over F . For T ∈ {F, Fω },
δ ϕ,T
b ) → E(T
let δϕ,T : E(T b )/ϕ(E(T )) ֒→ H 1 (GT , E[ϕ]) be the Kummer map. Then we have the
following commutative diagram:
δ ϕ,F
0 b )/ϕ(E(F ))
E(F H 1 (GF , E[ϕ]) H 1 (GF , E)[ϕ] 0
Q
resω
Q ω∈ΣF
δ ϕ,Fω
Q ω∈ΣF Q Q
0 b ω )/ϕ(E(Fω ))
E(F 1
H (GFω , E[ϕ]) H 1 (GFω , E)[ϕ] 0.
ω∈ΣF ω∈ΣF ω∈ΣF

Definition 1.2. The ϕ-Selmer group of E over F , Selϕ (E/F ) is defined as

Selϕ (E/F ) = {c ∈ H 1 (GF , E[ϕ]) | resω (c) ∈ Im(δϕ,Fω ) for every ω ∈ ΣF }.
6
 Q

Setting X(E/F ) := Ker H 1 (GF , E) → H 1 (GFω , E) , the Tate-Shafarevich group of
ω∈ΣF
E over K, we get the fundamental exact sequence:
b )/ϕ(E(F )) −→ Selϕ (E/F ) −→ X(E/F )[ϕ] −→ 0
0 −→ E(F (5)
n
In particular, when ϕ = [n] : E(F ) → E(F ), then we get the n-Selmer group Sel (E/F ).
In view of Prop. 1.1, by slight abuse of notation, we continue to denote the map
b
E(K) b
→ E(K)/ϕ(E(K)) ֒→ H 1 (GK , E[ϕ]) ∼
= (L∗ /L∗3 )N =1 again by δϕ,K ; similarly for δϕ,Kq .
Also via the canonical embedding ιq : K → Kq , we identify ιq (x) with x ∈ K; similarly for
L. From the commutative diagram,
N L/K
L∗ /L∗3 K ∗ /K ∗3

N Lq /Kq
L∗q /L∗3
q Kq∗ /Kq∗3 ,
∗ ∗3

∗ ∗3


if x ∈ L /L N =1 , then x ∈ Lq /Lq N =1 .
We now have the following alternative description of Selϕ (E/K):
Selϕ (E/K) = {x ∈ (L∗ /L∗3 )N =1 | x ∈ Im(δϕ,Kq ) for all q ∈ ΣK }. (6)
Similarly, if a ∈ K ∗2 , then the definition in (6) can be written more explicitly:
Selϕ (E/K) = {(x1 , x2 ) ∈ (K ∗ /K ∗3 × K ∗ /K ∗3 )N =1 | (x1 , x2 ) ∈ Im(δϕ,Kq ) for all q ∈ ΣK }. (7)
These will be our working definitions of the Selmer groups for the rest of the article.

2. Some algebraic number theory

We obtain some algebraic number theory results in this section which will be used later.
Definition 2.1. We define (A∗ /A∗3 )N =1 to be the kernel of the norm map N L/K : A∗ /A∗3 →
∗ ∗3
OK /OK induced from the norm map N L/K : L∗ /L∗3 → K ∗ /K ∗3 . The group (A∗q /A∗3
q )N =1 is
defined similarly by replacing A and OK with Aq and OKq , respectively, in the definition
of (A∗ /A∗3 )N =1 .
In the following proposition we compute the size of (A∗q /A∗3
q )N =1 .
(
1, / Kq∗2 ,
if a ∈
Proposition 2.2. For q ∤ 3, we have |(A∗q /A∗3
q )N =1 | =
3, if a ∈ Kq∗2 .
(
9, / Kp∗2 ,
if a ∈
On the other hand, for p | 3, we have |(A∗p /A∗3
p )N =1 | =
27, if a ∈ Kp∗2 .

Proof. First, assume that a ∈/ Kq∗2 i.e. OLq is the ring of integers of the field Lq . In this
case, cokernel of NLq/Kq : OL∗ q → OK
∗
q
is a 2-primary group, hence, N Lq /Kq : OL∗ q /OL∗3q →
∗ ∗3
∗ ∗3 |OL /OL |
OK q
/OK q
is surjective. Thus in this case, |(A∗q /A∗3
q )N =1 | =
q q
∗ /O ∗3 |
|OK
.
q Kq

On the other hand, if a ∈ Kq∗2 , then Aq ∼

= OKq × OKq (see §1). The norm map NLq /Kq :
∗ ∗ ∗
OK q
× OK q
→ OK q
is given by the multiplication of co-ordinates, hence surjective. Hence,
∗ ∗3 ∗ ∗3
|OK /OK ×OK /OK |
|(A∗q /A∗3
q )N =1 | =
q q q
∗ /O ∗3 |
|OK
q ∗
= |OK q
∗3
/OK q
|.
q Kq

Thus, to complete the proof, we compute |OF∗ /OF∗3 |, with F ∈ {Kq , Lq } a field. Let q
and |κF | denote the characteristic and cardinality of the residue field of F , respectively.
Then OF∗ ∼ Z
= (|κF |−1)Z × qZs Z × Zrq , where r = [F : Qq ] and s = max{t | F contains q t −
th roots of unity}.
7
 Suppose q 6= 3. If q ≡ 1 (mod 3), then q splits as a product of two primes in K, so
|κKq | = q ≡ 1 (mod 3). On the other hand, if q ≡ 2 (mod 3), then q is inert in K. Then
Kq is an unramified quadratic extension of Qq , hence |κKq | = q 2 = 1 (mod 3). Thus for
q 6= 3, |κKq | ≡ 1 (mod 3). Since |κLq | is either |κKq | or |κKq |2 , we see that |κLq | ≡ 1
(mod 3) for q 6= 3. We conclude that
h Z Z ih Z Z ih r i
|OF∗ /OF∗3 | = :3 : 3 Zq : 3Zr
q = 3.
(|κF | − 1)Z (|κF | − 1)Z q s Z qsZ
Now if q = 3, then OK ∗ ∼ Z
= 2Z Z
× 3Z × Z23 . Hence, |OK∗ ∗3
/OK | = 33 . And OL ∗ ∼ Z
= 8Z × Z
× Z43 .
p p p p 3Z
∗ ∗3 5
Hence, |OLp /OLp | = 3 . Combining all of these, the claim follows. 
Recall that for a local field F with the ring of integers OF and uniformizer π, UFn =
1 + π n OF . Given an element u ∈ OF∗ , we let u denote its image in OF∗ /UFn ∼
= (OF /π n OF )∗ .
Definition 2.3. For a local field F , define
VF = {u ∈ OF∗ | u ∈ OF∗ /UF3 satisfies u = α3 for some α ∈ OF∗ /UF3 }.
Note that OF∗3 ⊆ VF and UF3 ⊆ VF .
Lemma 2.4. Let F ∈ {Kp , Lp } be a field. Then we have |VF /OF∗3 | = 3.
∗ ∗3 ∗ 3
|OF /OF | |OF /UF |
Proof. Note that |VF /OF∗3 | = |OF∗ /V | .
F
First we compute |OF∗ /VF | = 3 | . It is easy
|VF /UF
to see


3 3 |OF∗ 3
| ∗ 1
that VF /UF3 ∼
= OF∗ /UF . Hence, |OF∗ /VF | = |(OF
/UF
∗ /U 3 )3 | . We know that O F ∼ Z
3 = (|κ |−1)Z
UF F
×
UF
3
UF
.
F
1
UK
⊕2 1
UL
⊕4
The structure of UF1 /UF3 is well known, 3
p ∼∼
=
= 3Z ZZ
and 3
p
. Hence, |OF∗ /VF | =
UK 3Z UL
( p ( p

9, if F = Kp , 27, if F = Kp ,
|UF1 /UF3 | = We have computed |OF∗ /OF∗3 | = (by Prop.
81, if F = Lp . 243, if F = Lp ,
2.2). The result is immediate from these observations. 
Definition 2.5. We define a subset V3 of A∗p :
(
∗3
{u ∈ VLp | NLp /Kp (u) ∈ OK }, / Kp∗2 ,
if a ∈
V3 = p
∗3
{(u1 , u2 ) ∈ VKp × VKp | u1 u2 ∈ OK p
}, if a ∈ Kp∗2 .

Note that A∗3 ∗3 ∗ ∗3 ∗

p ⊆ V3 and V3 /Ap ⊆ (Ap /Ap )N =1 , whether or not a is a square in Kp .

Proposition 2.6. (1) There exists a unit u = 1 + p3 β ∈ UK 3

p
, such that its image u in
∗ 4 ∗ 4 3
OKp /UKp is not a cube i.e. u ∈ / (OKp /UKp ) . In particular, this implies β ∈ / p.
(2) Let a ∈ ∗2 3
/ Kp and consider the field Lp . There exists a unit u ∈ ULp , such that
∗3
NLp /Kp (u) ∈
/ OK p
. In particular, we deduce that V3 $ VLp .

Proof. (1) Consider the following short exact sequence with canonical maps:
3 ∗ 4 ∗ 3
UK p
OK p
/UK p
OK p
/UK p
1 −→ 4 −→
3 −→
3 −→ 1.
UK ∗ /U 4
OK O ∗ /U 3
p
p Kp Kp Kp
3
UK
Choose any u = 1 + p3 β ∈ UK
3
p
4
\ UK p
. Then β ∈
/ p. Further, u ∈ 4
UK
p
has order o(u) = 3
p
3
UK OKp
3
UK ∗
OK
3
as p ∼ ∼ Z
Via p p ∗
, consider u ∈ OK 4 ∗
. As OK 4 ∼ Z
we see
4
UK = p = 3Z . 4
UKp
֒→ 4
UK p
/UK p p
/UK p
= 2Z ,
p p
∗ 4

3
that u ∈
/ OK p
/UK p
.
3 is surjective, since U 3 ∼ p3 O
(2) First note that the map x 7→ x2 on UK ∼
p Kp = Kp = OKp and
3 4
the multiplication by 2 map on OKp is surjective. Now, given any u ∈ UKp \ UK p
, there
8
exists an element u0 ∈ UK3
p
4
\ UK p
such that u20 = u. Note that a ∈ / Kp∗2 implies p remains a
prime in the field Lp and hence NLp /Kp (u0 ) = u. We now choose u as in part(1) and fix u0
so that u20 = u. Note that u0 ∈ UK 3
p
⊂ UL3 p ⊂ VLp . Then we claim that NLp /Kp (u0 ) ∈ ∗3
/ OK p
.
∗3 ∗ 4

3
Indeed, if u ∈ OKp , then u ∈ OKp /UKp , which is a contradiction by part(1). Hence, u0
is the required unit and in particular, u0 ∈ VLp \ V3 . 
  1
UK 3
UK
A∗ ∼ ∼
Lemma 2.7. Let a ∈ Kp∗2 . Then p
A∗3 = 4
UK
p
and V3
A∗3 = 4
UK
p
.
p N =1 p p p
 A∗  ∗
OK
Proof. First note that we have a canonical isomorphism p ∼
= p
. We know that
A∗3 ∗3
OK
p N =1 p
OK ∗ 1
UK
∗
OK ∼
= Z 1
× UK . Hence, p ∼
= 1
p 1
. Let α = 1 + pβ ∈ UK . By substituting ζ = 1 − p
p 2Z p OK ∗3 (UKp )3 p
p

and p2 ζ 2 = −3, it is easy to see that α3 ≡ 1 + p3 (β 3 − β) (mod p4 ). As x 7→ x3 is the

O
identity automorphism on pOKKpp ∼ Z
= 3Z , we see that β 3 ≡ β (mod p). So, α3 ≡ 1 (mod p4 ) and

3  O∗   U 1  1
U1

 K   K 
so  UK4 p  = 27. Thus,
UK Z ⊕3
1
UK 4
⊂ UK . Note that  O∗3p  =  (U 1 p)3  = 27 and 4
p ∼
= ,
p p Kp Kp UK 3Z Kp
p

3  ∗ UK1
1 4 Ap ∼
UKp = UKp and A∗3 = U4 . p
p N =1 Kp
3 3 V3
Recall that UK p
⊂ VKp . So by the definition of V3 , there is an obvious map f : UK p
→ A∗3
p

3 3
UK
given by u 7→ (u, u2 ). Now, UK
1
p
4
= UK p
⊂ Kerf and there is an induced map, f¯ : 4
UK
p
→
p
3
V3 4 UK
A∗3 . Let u ∈ UK p
. Note that the order of 4
UK
p
= 3 and further, by Prop. 2.6(1), ∃ a unit
p p
3
u ∈ UK p
4
\ UK p
such that u ∈ ∗3
/ OK p
. Hence, f¯ is injective. We claim the order of V3
A∗3 = 3 and
p
VKp
hence f¯ is an isomorphism. Indeed, we have a canonical isomorphism V3
A∗3
p
∼
= OK∗3 and by
p
V 
Lemma 2.4,  OK∗3p  = 3. 
Kp
(
1, / Kp∗2 ,
if a ∈
Proposition 2.8. We have |V3 /A∗3
p | =
3, if a ∈ Kp∗2 .
/ Kp∗2 i.e. Ap = OLp is the ring of integers of the field Lp , then A∗3
Proof. If a ∈ p ⊂ V3 $ VLp
(Prop. 2.6(1)). Since |V3 /A∗3 ∗3
p | divides |VLp /Ap | = 3, the result follows.
In the case when a ∈ K ∗2 , the proof is immediate from Lemma 2.7. 
We make a remark regarding some notational modification.
Remark 2.9. For any non-archimedean local field F with discrete valuation v and x ∈
Fe ∗ /Fe ∗3 , choosing any lift x ∈ F ∗ , v(x) ∈ Z/3Z, defined by v(x) := v(x) (mod 3), is well
defined. Similarly, for (y, z) ∈ F ∗ /F ∗3 × F ∗ /F ∗3 , choosing any lift (y, z) ∈ F ∗ × F ∗ , v(y, z) :=
(v(y) (mod 3), v(z) (mod 3)), is well defined.
In particular, if v(x) = 0 (mod 3) (resp. v(y, z) = (0 (mod 3), 0 (mod 3))), then we will
say that v(x) (resp. v(y, z)) is a multiple of 3.
For a prime q ∈ ΣK , we denote the induced valuation on Lq simply by υq .
Lemma 2.10. Let x ∈ (L∗q /L∗3 ∗ ∗3
q )N =1 . Then x ∈ (Aq /Aq )N =1 if and only if υq (x) ≡ 0 (mod 3).

Proof. Let us first assume Lq to be a field. If x ∈ (A∗q /A∗3 q )N =1 , then choosing any lift
x ∈ A∗q of x, clearly we see that υq (x) = 0. On the other hand, let υq (x) ≡ 0 (mod 3) for
x ∈ (L∗q /L∗3 ∗ ∗ ∗3
q )N =1 . Then x = q y, where y ∈ Aq and n ∈ Z. Thus, x = y in (Lq /Lq )N =1 and
3n
∗ ∗3 ∗3 ∗ ∗3
y ∈ Aq /Aq . As NLq /Kq (y) ∈ OKq , we deduce y ∈ (Aq /Aq )N =1 .
A similar proof works in case when Lq ∼ = Kq × Kq . 
9
 √ of K and recall that OS denotes the
Definition 2.11. Let S be a finite set of finite primes
ring of S-integers in K. If a ∈/ K ∗2 , then L = K( a). Let S(L) = {Q ∈ ΣL | Q ∩ K ∈ S}.
Further, OS(L) will denote the ring of S(L)-integers in L. Let x ∈ L∗ be any lift of
x ∈ L∗ /L∗3 . We define the following groups:
√
M (S, a) = {x ∈ L∗ /L∗3 : L( 3 x)/L is unramified and x ∈ L∗3
q for all q ∈ S},

N (S, a) = {x ∈ L∗ /L∗3 : (x) = I 3 for some fractional ideal I of OS(L) }.

Note that if x ∈ M (S, a), then any lift x ∈ L∗ of x satisfies (x) = I 3 for some fractional
ideal I of OS(L) ([Wa, Ch. 9]). This implies that NL/K (x) ∈ K ∗3 . So, M (S, a) ⊂ N (S, a) ⊂
(L∗ /L∗3 )N =1 .
Definition 2.12. Let S be a finite set of finite primes of K. When a ∈ K ∗2 , we define


N ′ (S, a) := {(x1 , x2 ) ∈ K ∗ /K ∗3 × K ∗ /K ∗3 N =1
| υq (x1 , x2 ) ≡ 0 (mod 3) for all q ∈
/ S}.
Definition 2.13. Let a ∈ / K ∗2 . We denote by ClS(L) (L) the S(L)-ideal class group of L i.e.
the class group of OS(L) . The 3-rank of ClS(L) (L) is denoted by h3S(L) := dimF3 ClS(L) (L) ⊗Z
F3 = dimF3 ClS(L) (L)[3]. In particular, if S(L) is empty, then Cl∅ (L) = Cl(L) is the ideal
class group of L and h3L = dimF3 Cl(L) ⊗Z F3 .
Lemma 2.14. Let a ∈ / K ∗2 and put Qe b := 2Q[x] 2 and Qe φ := Q[x]
Then the 3-rank of
φa (x −aα ) a (x2 −a) .
the class group of L is given by h3L = h3Qe + h3Qe (see [He]). 
ba
φ φa

Proposition 2.15. Let a ∈/ K ∗2 . We compute the dimensions of the F3 -modules M (S, a)

and N (S, a) as follows:
dimF3 M (S, a) = h3S(L) and dimF3 N (S, a) = h3S(L) + |S(L)| + 2.
When a ∈ K ∗2 , the F3 -dimension of N ′ (S, a) is given by dimF3 N ′ (S, a) = |S| + 1.
Proof. Let a ∈/ K ∗2 . Recall by Class Field theory, Cl(L) ∼ = Gal(HL /L), where HL is the
Hilbert class field of L i.e. maximal abelian everywhere unramified extension of L. Note
that as HL /L is unramified, the decomposition subgroup of a prime Q of L is generated
by the corresponding Frobenius element. On the other hand, ClS(L) (L) is the quotient of
the ideal class group of L, Cl(L) by the subgroup of ideal classes generated by primes in
S(L). Thus, using Class Field theory, ClS(L) (L) can be identified with the Galois group of
the maximal abelian everywhere unramified extension of L in which every prime of S(L)
splits completely.
Recall µ3 ⊂ L and√ by Kummer theory, the maximal abelian extension
√ of exponent 3 of
L is given by L({ 3 x | x ∈ √L∗ }). Recall that for every x ∈ M (S, a), L( 3 x)/L is everywhere
unramified. Let L1 := √ L({ 3 x | x ∈ M (S, a)}). For Q ∈ S(L), let Q
√ be a prime in L1 lying
above Q. Then LQ ( x) = LQ for all x ∈ M (S, a). Hence, LQ ({ 3 x | x ∈ M (S, a)}) = LQ .
3

And thus (L1 )Q = LQ . This implies that e(Q/Q) = f (Q/Q) = 1 for any Q in L1 lying above
Q. Therefore, we conclude that Q splits completely in L1 . By using the Definition 2.11
of M (S, a), L1 is the maximal abelian everywhere unramified extension of L of exponent
3 in which every prime in S(L) splits completely. By Class Field Theory Gal(L1 /L) ∼ =
ClS(L) (L) ⊗Z F3 . As µ3 ⊂ L, again by Kummer theory,
M (S, a) ∼
= Hom(Gal(L1 /L), µ3 ) ∼
= Hom(ClS(L) (L)/3ClS(L) (L), F3 ).
Hence, dimF3 M (S, a) = dimF3 Hom(ClS(L) (L)/3ClS(L) (L), F3 ) = h3S(L) .
Now suppose x ∈ N (S, a) and I ⊂ L is a fractional ideal of OS(L) such that (x) = I 3 ,
then consider the map ρ : N (S, a) → ClS(L) (L)[3] given by x 7→ [I]. Then ρ is a well-defined
surjective group homomorphism.
10
 To see the well-definedness, let y ∈ N (S, a) be such that x = y ∈ L∗ /L∗3 . Thus y = r3 x
for some r ∈ L∗ . Hence, (y) = (r3 x) = (r3 )(x) = (r)3 I 3 . Since I and (r)I lie in the same
ideal class in ClS(L) (L), we get ρ(x) = ρ(y). Finally, if there are two fractional ideals I and
J such that I 3 = (x) = J 3 , then the uniqueness of prime factorization of fractional ideals
in L gives I = J. Thus, ρ is well-defined. Now, ρ is a group homomorphism is clear.
Let [J] be a class of ideals in ClS(L) (L)[3] and J be a fractional ideal in the class. Then
J 3 = (y) for some y ∈ L∗ , hence y ∈ L∗ /L∗3 is an element of N (S, a) such that ρ(y) = [J].
This shows that the map ρ is surjective.
∗ ∗3 ∗ ∗3
Now, we compute the kernel. Note that OS(L) /OS(L) ⊂ N (S, a). If x ∈ OS(L) /OS(L) , then
any lift x of x̄ is a unit in OS(L) , hence (x) = OS(L) = [1] ∈ ClS(L) (L) and so x ∈ Ker(ρ).
∗ ∗3
Thus Ker(ρ) ⊃ OS(L) /OS(L) . Conversely, if x ∈ Ker(ρ), then we have the equality of OS(L) -
fractional ideals, (x) = (y)3 , for some y ∈ L∗ . Thus, there exists some s ∈ OS(L) ∗
such
that x = sy 3 . Hence, x = s in L∗ /L∗3 . Hence, x = s and as s ∈ OS(L) ∗
, we can view s in
∗ ∗3 ∗ ∗3
OS(L) /OS(L) . This shows that Ker(ρ) = OS(L) /OS(L) .
∗ ∗3
By Dirichlet’s S-units theorem [Gr, Cor. 3.7.1, §1], dimF3 OS(L) /OS(L) = |S(L)|+2. Hence,
∗
OS(L)
dimF3 N (S, a) = dimF3 ClS(L) (L)[3] + dimF3= h3S(L) + |S(L)| + 2.
∗3
OS(L)
 ∗  ∗ ∗

AS OS OS
When a ∈ K ∗2 , we can see that N ′ (S, a) ∼
= A∗3 := O∗3 × ∗3
OS
. Hence,
S N =1 S N =1
′
dimF3 N (S, a) = |S| + 1, by Dirichlet’s S-units theorem [Gr, Cor. 3.7.1, §1]. 

We give an alternative (equivalent) description of N (S, a), N ′ (S, a) and M (S, a), which
fits well with the definition of Selmer groups given in (6) and (7) and will be used later to
give lower and upper bounds on them.
/ K ∗2 , we have
Proposition 2.16. When a ∈
 L∗   A∗  V3
q
M (S, a) = {x ∈ ∗3
| x ∈ ∗3
if q ∈
/ S ∪{p}, x = 1 if q ∈ S and x ∈ ∗3 if p ∈
/ S},
L N =1 Aq N =1 Ap
 L∗   A∗ 
q
N (S, a) = {x ∈ ∗3
|x∈ for all q ∈
/ S}.
L N =1 A∗3
q N =1

On the other hand, for a ∈ K ∗2 , we have

 K∗ K∗   A∗ 
q
N ′ (S, a) = {(x1 , x2 ) ∈
× | (x 1 , x2 ) ∈ for all q ∈
/ S}.
K ∗3 K ∗3 N =1 A∗3
q N =1



Proof. Let x ∈ L∗ /L∗3 N =1 . Then by Lemma 2.10, x ∈ A∗q /A∗3 q N =1 if and only if υq (x) ≡ 0


(mod 3). Hence, (x) = I 3 for some fractional ideal I of OS(L) if and only if x ∈ A∗q /A∗3 q N =1
for all q ∈
/ S. Thus, the two definitions of N (S, a) in the Definition 2.11 and here are
equivalent.

On the other hand, let x ∈ M (S, a) ⊂ L∗ /L∗3 N =1 . To show the equivalence of two
definitions of M (S, a) in the Definition 2.11 and in this Proposition, we start with a prime
√
q∈/ S ∪ {p}. By [Gr, Theorem 6.3(i), Ch. 1], L( 3 x)/L is unramified at a prime Q dividing


q if and only if υQ (x) ≡ 0 (mod 3). By Lemma 2.10, this is equivalent to x ∈ A∗q /A∗3 q N =1 .
Next consider q ∈ S (includes q = p). Then by the Definition 2.11, x ∈ L∗3 q or equiva-
lently, x = 1 ∈ (L∗q /L∗3 )
q N =1 .
√
Finally, we consider the prime p where p ∈ / S. Then L( 3 x)/L is unramified at any
prime P | p, by the Definition 2.11. Then by [Gr, Theorem 6.3(ii), Ch. 1], we obtain that
x ∈ VLP for any lift x ∈ L∗ of x. In particular, υP (x) ≡ 0 (mod 3). Hence, by Lemma
∗3
2.10, NLP /Kp (x) ∈ OK p
. Consequently, from the Definition 2.5, x ∈ V3 /A∗3
p . Conversely, let
11
 √
p∈/ S and x ∈ V3 /A∗3
p . Then again by [Gr, Theorem 6.3(ii), Ch. 1], L( x)/L is unramified
3

at every prime P | p. The result follows from these discussions.

The alternate description of N ′ (S, a) can be obtained from Lemma 2.10 in a similar way. 

3. Selmer group for Curves of Type I

Recall that we have Type I curves Ea : y 2 = x3 + a, with a ∈ Z \ {0} sixth-power
 free in
3
x3 +4a y(x −8a)
K and the K-rational 3-isogeny φ : Ea → Ea given by φ(x, y) = p2 x2 , p3 x3 .

3.1. Local Theory for Type I curves. In this subsection, we give an explicit description
of the image of the Kummer map δφ,Kq for Ea for all q. However, we start with a general
result that is valid for both Type I and Type II curves.
Let E, Eb be elliptic curves over K and ϕ : E → Eb be a K-rational 3-isogeny. Recall that
b q ) → H 1 (GKq , E[ϕ]) ∼= (L∗q /L∗3
δϕ,Kq : E(K q )N =1 (Prop. 1.1). Thus, we view δϕ,Kq (P ) as an
∗ ∗3
element of Lq /Lq and by Remark 2.9, vq (δϕ,Kq (P )) (mod 3) makes sense.

Lemma 3.1. Let ϕ : E → Eb be a 3-isogeny defined over K. If E (and hence E) b has good
b q ), vq (δϕ,Kq (P )) ≡ 0 (mod 3). In
reduction at a prime q ∤ 3 in K, then for any P ∈ E(K


b ∗ ∗3
particular, δϕ,Kq (E(Kq )) ⊂ Aq /Aq N =1 .

Proof. By assumption, E has good reduction at q ∤ 3. Then for P ∈ E(K b q ), we have

res

δϕ,Kq (P ) ∈ Ker H 1 (GKq , E[ϕ]) −→ H 1 (GKqunr , E[ϕ]) , (by [SS, Lemma 3.1]) where Kqunr is
the maximal unramified extension of

Kq . By Prop. 1.1, H 1 (GKq , E[ϕ]) ∼
= (L∗q /L∗3
q )N =1 and
H (GKqunr , E[ϕ]) ∼
1 ∗ ∗3
= (Lq ) /(Lq ) N =1 . Via these isomorphisms, we identify H 1 (GKq , E[ϕ])
unr unr

and H 1 (GKqunr , E[ϕ]) with their respective images in L∗q /L∗3 unr ∗ unr ∗3
q and (Lq ) /(Lq ) . Then we
inf

b q ), then δϕ,Kq (P ) ∈ Ker L∗q /L∗3
see that, if P ∈ E(K unr ∗
q −→ (Lq ) /(Lq )
unr ∗3
, where the map
unr
inf is induced by the canonical injection Lq ֒→ Lq .
∗ unr ∗3
Now for any x ∈ L∗q /L∗3 ∗
q and a lift x ∈ Lq , we have that x ∈ Ker(inf) ⇔ x ∈ Lq ∩(Lq ) ⇔
√
Lq ( x)/Lq is unramified ⇔ vq (x) ≡ 0 (mod 3). The last implications follow from [Gr,
3


Theorem 6.3(i), §1]. Thus, vq (δϕ,Kq (P )) ≡ 0 (mod 3). That δϕ,Kq (E(Kb q )) ⊂ A∗q /A∗3
q N =1 ,
follows from Lemma 2.10. 

Remark 3.2. Assume that q ∤ 3 and the Tamagawa numbers cq (E), cq (E) b are not divisible
by 3. Then the image of the Kummer map δϕ,Kq (E(K b q )) in H (GKq , E[ϕ]) is equal to the
1
1


unramified subgroup Hunr (GKq , E[ϕ]) = Ker H 1 (GKq , E[ϕ]) → H 1 (Iq , E[ϕ]) [SS, Lemma 4.5].

Remark 3.3. Let P ∈ E(K b q ) and δϕ,Kq (P ) ∈ L∗q /L∗3

q . Then we can write δϕ,Kq (P ) = t, if
∼
Lq is a field and δϕ,Kq (P ) = (t1 , t2 ), if Lq = Kq × Kq . To ease the notation, we simply write
δϕ,Kq (P ) = t or (t1 , t2 ), respectively, in §3.1 and §4.1.

The following construction follows Cassels [Ca3, §14, §15] and the proofs are omitted.
Proposition 3.4. Let Ea be an elliptic curve of Type I and φ : Ea → Ea be the K-
isogeny defined in (2). We have the Kummer map δφ,Kq : Ea (Kq ) → (L∗q /L∗3
q )N =1 with
Ker(δφ,Kq ) = φ(Ea (Kq )). Let P = (x(P ), y(P )) ∈ Ea (Kq ).
(
1 if P = O,
If Lq is a field, then δφ,Kq is given by δφ,Kq (P ) = √
y(P ) − a otherwise.
12
 

(1, 1) if P = O,

 √ √
( √1
, 2 a) if P = (0, a),
If Lq ∼
= Kq ×Kq , then δφ,Kq is given by δφ,Kq (P ) = 2 a
√ 1 √

(−2 a, − 2√ ) if P = (0, − a),

 a
(y(P ) − a, y(P ) + √a)
√
if P ∈
/ Ea [φ](Kq ).

b be an isogeny of elliptic
Let F be a local field of characteristic 0. Suppose ϕ : E → E
curves. By a theorem of Schaefer [Sc, Lemma 3.8], we know that
b
||ϕ′ (0)||−1 × |E(F )[ϕ]| × c(E)
b )/ϕ(E(F ))| =
|E(F , (8)
c(E)
where ||.|| denotes the norm in the field F and ϕ′ (0) is the leading coefficient of the power
series representation of ϕ on the formal group of E b [S1, §4]. Using this formula, we will
b
compute |E(Kq )/ϕ(E(Kq ))| for all possible q.
3.1.1. Local theory at a prime not dividing 3. In this subsection, we assume that q
is a prime of K = Q(ζ) not dividing 3.
(
  1, / Kq∗2
if a ∈
Ea (Kq ) 
Lemma 3.5. For q ∤ 3, we have  φ(E a (Kq ))
 = |Ea [φ](Kq )| =
3, if a ∈ Kq∗2 .

Proof. We have |Ea (Kq )/φ(Ea (Kq ))| = ||φ′ (0)||−1 ′

q ×|Ea [φ](Kq )| (by (8)). Note that ||φ (0)||q =
1 ([Sc, Comment after Lemma 3.8]) for all q(which do not divide the degree of the isogeny
1, / Kq∗2
if a ∈
φ. Also, it is easy to see that |Ea [φ](Kq )| = Hence the claim follows. 
3, if a ∈ Kq∗2 .

Corollary 3.6. Let a ∈/ Kq∗2 . Then it follows from Prop. 2.2 and Lemma 3.5, δφ,Kq (Ea (Kq )) ∼
=
Ea (Kq ) ∼ ∗ ∗3
φ(Ea (Kq )) = (Aq /A )
q N =1 = {1}. 
Proposition 3.7. Let q ∤ 3 and a ∈ Kq∗2 . Take P ∈ Ea (Kq ).
(1) If υq (4a) ≡ 0 (mod 6), then υq (δφ,Kq (P )) ≡ 0 (mod 3). In fact, δφ,Kq (Ea (Kq )) =
(A∗q /A∗3
q )N =1 .
(2) If υq (4a) 6≡ 0 (mod 6), then δφ,Kq (Ea (Kq )) ∩ (A∗q /A∗3
q )N =1 = {1}.
√ √
Proof. As a ∈ Kq∗2 , we have Ea [φ](Kq ) = {O, (0, a), (0, − a)} and Lq ∼ = Kq × Kq .
√
(1) Let υq (4a) ≡ 0 (mod 6). We can assume P 6= O. For P = (0,
a), observe that
√ 1 √
υq (2 a) ≡ 0 (mod 3). Thus from Prop. 3.4, υq (δφ,Kq (P )) = υq 2√ a
, 2 a ≡ 0 (mod 3). The
√
argument for (0, − a) is similar. Next, consider P ∈ Ea (Kq ) \ Ea [φ](Kq ). If υq (y(P )) 6=
√ √ √
υq ( a), then 3υq (x(P )) = 2min{υq(y(P )), υq ( a)} = 2υq (y(P ) ± a). Hence again from Prop.
√
3.4, υq (δφ,Kq (P )) ≡ 0 (mod 3). Thus, it reduces to consider υq (y(P )) = υq ( a).
First we assume that q 6= 2. Then υq (4a) = υq (a) ≡ 0 (mod 6). But a is sixth-power free
√ ∗
by assumption, whence υq (a) = 0. Then both a, y(P ) ∈ OK . Consequently, at least one
√ √ q
of υ (y(P ) − a) and υq (y(P ) + a) has be equal to 0. Further, using 3υq (x(P )) = υq (y(P ) −
√ q √ √
a) + υq (y(P ) + a), it follows that υq (y(P ) ± a) ≡ 0 (mod 3). Thus, υq (δφ,Kq (P )) ≡ 0
(mod 3).
Finally, we consider q = 2. By given hypothesis and using a is sixth-power free, we
deduce υ2 (a) = 4. Observe that a ∈ K2∗2 if and only if a ∈ Q∗2 ∗2
2 or −3a ∈ Q2 . From this,
4
it is easy to see that we can write a = 2 (4t + 1), t ∈ Z. So Ea : y = x3 + 16(4t + 1)
2

has discriminant ∆Ea = −212 · 33 · (4t + 1)2 and by Tate’s algorithm, this is not a minimal
model of the curve. The change of variables (x, y) = (4x′ , 8y ′ + 4) transforms Ea into
13
y ′2 + y ′ = x′3 + t which has discriminant −33 · (4t + 1)2 , not divisible by 2. Thus, Ea has
good reduction at 2 and by Lemma 3.1, we obtain υ2 (δφ,K2 (P )) ≡ 0 (mod 3).
By Lemma 2.10, it follows that for all q ∤ 3, δφ,Kq (Ea (Kq )) ⊆ (A∗q /A∗3 q )N =1 , whenever
υq (4a) ≡ 0 (mod 6). The equality follows from Prop. 2.2 and Lemma 3.5.
(2) Let υq (4a) 6≡ 0 (mod 6). As explained above, |(A∗q /A∗3q )N =1 | = |δφ,Kq (Ea (Kq ))| = 3, for
√
a ∈ Kq∗2 . Now, if υq (4a) ≡ 2 (mod 6), then υq (2 a) = 1, as a is sixth-power free. Hence,
for O 6= P ∈ Ea [φ](Kq ) we get that υq (δφ,Kq (P )) = 1. So by Lemma 2.10, δφ,Kq (Ea (Kq )) ∩
√
(A∗q /A∗3
q )N =1 = {1} in this case. On the other hand, if υq (4a) ≡ 4 (mod 6), then υq (2 a) = 2.
Hence, for O 6= P ∈ Ea [φ](Kq ), υq (δφ,Kq (P )) = 2. So we arrive at the same conclusion. 

3.1.2. Local theory at a prime dividing 3. By Tate’s algorithm, we see that, Ea :

y 2 = x3 + a is a minimal Weierstrass equation over Z3 [p], where p = 1 − ζ. We compute
φ′ (0) using formal groups of elliptic curves, following [Sc, Pg. 92]. Let φ(x, y) = (X, Y ).
Write Z := −X/Y as a power series in z := −x/y as follows:
x3 +4a
X p2 x 2 x 12a   12a 
Z = − = − y(x3 −8a) = −p 1 + 3 = pz 1 + 3 = pz + O(z 2 ), (9)
Y 3 3
y x − 8a x − 8a
p x

whence φ′ (0) = p and ||φ′ (0)||−1

p = 3.
(
  3, / Kp∗2
if a ∈
Lemma 3.8. For p | 3, we have  φ(E
Ea (Kp ) 
a (Kp ))
 = ||φ′ (0)||−1
p × |Ea [φ](Kp )| =
9, if a ∈ Kp∗2 .

Proof. Using (8), we have |Ea (Kp )/φ(E(a (Kp ))| = ||φ′ (0)||p−1 ×|Ea [φ](Kp )|. From (9), we know
1, / Kp∗2
if a ∈
that ||φ′ (0)||−1
p = 3 and |Ea [φ](Kp )| = Hence the claim follows. 
3, if a ∈ Kp∗2 .

/ Kp∗2 . Then δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp )) ⊆ (A∗p /A∗3

Lemma 3.9. Assume that a ∈ p )N =1 . Moreover,
[(A∗p /A∗3
p )N =1 : δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp ))] = 3.

Proof. Let P be a prime of L dividing p. Note that Lp /Kp is an unramified quadratic

extension and υP (x) = υp (x) for every x ∈ Kp . We may assume that P = (x(P ), y(P )) 6= O.
√ √ √ √
If υP (y(P )) 6= υP ( a), then 3υP (x(P )) = υP (y(P ) + a) + υP (y(P ) − a) = 2υP (y(P ) ± a)
√ √
whence, υP (y(P ) ± a) ≡ 0 (mod 3). So it reduces to the case when υP (y(P )) = υP ( a) = n,
say. Once we show n ≡ 0 (mod 3), then δφ,Kp (P ) ∈ (A∗p /A∗3 p )N =1 follows from Lemma 2.10.
∗ ∗ ∗2
Write y(P ) = pn α, a = p2n β with α ∈ OK p
and β ∈ O Kp \ OKp . Let α, β be the corre-
sponding images in the residue field κp . Note α2 ∈ κ∗2 p and by Hensel’s lemma β ∈/ κ∗2 . It
2 ∗
√ √ √ p
follows that α − β ∈ OKp . Hence, υP (α − β) + υP (α + β) = 0 and thus υP (α ± β) = 0.
√
So υP (y(P ) ± a) = n. Since 3υP (x(P )) = 2n, we get n ≡ 0 (mod 3).
The index [(A∗p /A∗3p )N =1 : δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp ))] = 3 follows from Prop. 2.2 and Lemma 3.8. 

/ Kp∗2 , then by Prop. 2.8, {1} = V3 /A∗3

Remark 3.10. If a ∈ p ⊆ δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp )).

Finally, we consider the case a ∈ Kp∗2 .

Proposition 3.11. Let a ∈ Kp∗2 . Then

(1) If υp (4a) ≡ 0 (mod 6), then δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp )) ⊆ (A∗p /A∗3 ∗ ∗3
p )N =1 . Moreover, [(Ap /Ap )N =1 :
δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp ))] = 3.
(2) If υp (4a) 6≡ 0 (mod 6), then δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp )) 6⊂ (A∗p /A∗3
p )N =1 . Also |δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp )) ∩
(A∗p /A∗3
p )N =1 | = 3.
14
Proof. Observe that υp (4a) ≡ 0 (mod 6) if and only if p ∤ a. Also recall Lp ∼ = Kp × Kp and
|(A∗p /A∗3 )
p N =1 | = 27 and |δ φ,Kp (Ea (K p ))| = 9 (by Prop. 2.2 and Lemma 3.8, resp.)
(1) The proof of this case is similar to Prop. 3.7(1) for primes not dividing 2. Once again
[(A∗p /A∗3
p )N =1 : δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp ))] is computed directly from Prop. 2.2 and Lemma 3.8.
√ √
(2) In this case, p | a. Then for P = (0, a), υp (δφ,Kp (P )) = υp (( 2√1 a , 2 a)) 6≡ 0 (mod 3).
Thus δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp )) 6⊆ (A∗p /A∗3 ∗ ∗3
p )N =1 . Note that both δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp )) and (Ap /Ap )N =1 are
∗ ∗3 ∗ ∗3
subgroups of (Lp /Lp )N =1 ; the last group being isomorphic to Kp /Kp , has order 81. Then
looking at their respective cardinalities, we deduce |δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp )) ∩ (A∗p /A∗3 p )N =1 | = 3. 
Proposition 3.12. Let a ∈ Kp∗2 . If υp (4a) ≡ 0 (mod 6), then V3 /A∗3
p ⊂ δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp )).

∗3
Proof. Recall from the Definition 2.5 that V3 = {(u1 , u2 ) ∈ VKp × VKp | u1 u2 ∈ OK p
}. By
∗3 ∗ ∗3
definition, V3 /Ap is a subgroup of (Ap /Ap )N =1 and it has order 3 (Prop. 2.8). Similarly,
δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp )) is a subgroup of (A∗p /A∗3
p )N =1 of order 9, by Prop. 3.11 and Lemma 3.8.
∗3
Thus, it suffices to show that V3 /Ap and δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp )) have non-trivial intersection.
∗
We start by choosing a unit u = 1 + p3 β ∈ UK 3
p
such that β ∈
/ p and u ∈ / (OK p
/UK 4 3
p
)
(Prop. 2.6(2)). Note that the Frobenius map x 7→ x is the identity map on OKp /p ∼
3 F
= 3.
β ∗ 3
Put w := √a ∈ OKp . Then w ≡ w (mod p). We set z := pw and notice that υp (z) = 1.
Let P (z) = (x(P (z)), y(P (z))) be the corresponding point on Ea (Kp ) obtained by using
the formal group of the elliptic curve. Then υp (y(P (z))) = −3, υp (x(P (z))) = −2 and
√ √
z 3 (y(P (z)) − a) = −1 − az 3 + O(z 4 ) by [S1, Pg. 118, §4].
√ √ O ∗
3
Hence, p3 ω 3 (y(P (z)) − a) ≡ −1 (mod p3 ) which implies p3 ω 3 (y(P (z)) − a) ∈ U K3 p .
√ √ Kp

Therefore, by definition, p3 ω 3 (y(P (z)) − a) ∈ VKp . Similarly, p3 ω 3 (y(P (z)) + a) ∈ VKp

√ √
3 ∗3
as well. Now clearly, p3 ω 3 (y(P (z)) − a) · p3 ω 3 (y(P (z)) + a) = p2 ω 2 x(P (z)) ∈ OK .
3 3
√ 3 3
√
p

Thus, by definition, p ω (y(P (z)) − a), p ω (y(P (z)) + a) ∈ V3 . We now claim that
√ √

p3 ω 3 (y(P (z)) − a), p3 ω 3 (y(P (z)) + a) is a non-trivial element of V3 /A∗3 p . Indeed,
√ √ ∗
p3 ω 3 (y(P (z)) − a) ≡ −1 − p3 aw3 ≡ −u (mod p4 ) and u ∈ / (OK /U 4 3
Kp ) . Hence, it follows
3 3
√ ∗3
p

that p ω (y(P (z)) − a) ∈ / OKp and the claim is established.

√ √ √ √
Now, δφ,Kp (P (z)) = (y(P (z)) − a, y(P (z)) + a) = (p3 ω 3 (y(P (z)) − a), p3 ω 3 (y(P (z)) + a)) ∈
(A∗p /A∗3 ∗3
p )N =1 . Thus, δφ,Kp (P (z)) is a non-trivial element of V3 /Ap ∩ δφ,Kp (Ea (Kp )). 

3.2. Bounds for φ-Selmer group of Type I curves.

3.2.1. Selmer Group over K. Recall from §1 that we have a K-rational 3-isogeny
φ : Ea → Ea . We now use the local theory developed in §3.1 to give bounds on
dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K)
Definition 3.13. We define a finite subset Sa of ΣK as follows:
Sa := {q ∈ ΣK | a ∈ Kq∗2 and υq (4a) 6≡ 0 (mod 6)}.
Further, define Sa (L) := {Q ∈ ΣL | Q ∩ OK ∈ Sa }.
Note that if a ∈ K ∗2 , then Sa := {q ∈ ΣK | υq (4a) 6≡ 0 (mod 6)}.
Remark 3.14. Using Tate’s algorithm, we observe that if a prime q ∈ Sa , then Ea has
additive reduction of Kodaira type IV or IV ∗ at q and the Tamagawa number cq (Ea ) = 3.
On the other hand, if q ∈
/ Sa is such that υq (4a) 6= 2, 4, then Ea has either good or additive
reduction of Kodaira type II or II ∗ or I∗0 at q and the Tamagawa number cq (Ea ) = 1, 2 or
4 i.e coprime to 3. Also, if q ∈
/ Sa and υq (4a) = 2 or 4, then Ea has additive reduction of
Kodaira type II, IV or IV ∗ at q and the Tamagawa number cq (Ea ) = 1. In particular, if
15
Ea has semistable reduction at K i.e. no primes of additive reduction in K, then Sa = ∅.
Notice that p ∈ / Sa if Ea has either good ordinary or good supersingular reduction at p.
In summary, a prime q 6= p of K is in Sa ⇔ the Tamagawa number cq (Ea ) of Ea at q
is 3. The prime p | 3 of K is in Sa ⇔ 3 | a and the Tamagawa number cp (Ea ) = 3.
This numerical condition on υq (4a) is perhaps easier to verify than computing the
Tamagawa numbers cq (Ea ), which is discussed in [SS]. As an example, for a given a ∈/ K ∗2 ,
∗2
we have a criterion to decide whether or not p ∈ Sa : If a ∈ / K i.e. a 6= n or −3n2 ,
2

then p ∈ Sa if and only if

(1) 3 || a and a3 ≡ 2 (mod 3) i.e. a = 3(3t + 2),
(2) 9 || a and a9 ≡ 1 (mod 3) i.e. a = 9(3t + 1).

Recall from (6), Selφ (Ea /K) = {x ∈ (L∗ /L∗3 )N
=1 | x ∈ Im(δφ,Kq ) for all q ∈ ΣK }. The
subgroups M (Sa , a), N (Sa , a), N ′ (Sa , a) of L∗ /L∗3 N =1 are defined as in Prop. 2.16.
Theorem 3.15. We have the inclusion of groups and the inequalities of their 3-ranks:
(1) If a 6∈ K ∗2 , then M (Sa , a) ⊂ Selφ (Ea /K) ⊂ N (Sa , a). Hence, h3Sa (L) ≤ dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) ≤
h3Sa (L) + |Sa (L)| + 2.
(2) If a ∈ K ∗2 , then Selφ (Ea /K) ⊂ N ′ (Sa , a). Hence, dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) ≤ |Sa | + 1.
Proof. Let a ∈/ K ∗2 . We will first show that Selφ (Ea /K) ⊂ N (Sa , a). By Prop. 2.16, it is
enough to show that Im δφ,Kq ⊂ (A∗q /A∗3 q )N =1 for all q ∈
/ Sa . This is clear from the local
theory (at q ∈/ Sa ) of the elliptic curve Ea (Corollary 3.6, Prop. 3.7(1) for q ∤ 3 and Lemma
3.9, Prop. 3.11(1) for p | 3).
Next, we prove that M (Sa , a) ⊂ Selφ (Ea /K), whenever a ∈ / K ∗2 . From Prop. 2.16, it
suffices to show that (Aq /Aq )N =1 ⊂ Im δφ,Kq for q ∈/ Sa ∪ {p} and V3 /A∗3
∗ ∗3
p ⊂ Im δφ,Kp for
p∈/ Sa . These results follow from Corollary 3.6, Prop. 3.7(1) for q ∤ 3 and Remark 3.10,
Prop. 3.12 for p | 3.
When a ∈ K ∗2 , due to Prop. 2.16, Selφ (Ea /K) ⊂ N ′ (Sa , a) can be obtained from Corollary
3.6, Prop. 3.7(1) for q ∤ 3 and Lemma 3.9, Prop. 3.11(1) for p | 3.
In both cases (1) and (2), the statements about ranks follow directly from Prop. 2.15.
This completes the proof of the theorem. 
3.2.2. Selmer Group over Q. Recall from §1, we have defined rational 3-isogenies φa :
Ea : y 2 = x3 + a → Eba : y 2 = x3 + aα2 and φba : E
ba → Ea , with a sixth-power free in Q.
Further recall that we have the corresponding quadratic étale algebras Qeb , Q
e φa , over Q.
φa

Set Sa (Q) = {ℓ ∈ Z \ {3} | −3a ∈ Q∗2

ℓ and υℓ (4a) 6≡ 0 (mod 6)} ∪ T3 (Q), (10)
(
{3}, if − 3a ∈ Q∗2
3 and υ3 (a) = 1 or 5,
where T3 (Q) =
∅, otherwise.

Definition 3.16. If Q φa / Q∗2 , put Sa (Q

e b is a field i.e. −3a ∈ e b ) := {l ∈ Σ e | l∩Q ∈ Sa (Q)}.
φa Qb φa


Define N (Sa (Q), a) := {x ∈ Q e ∗3
e ∗ /Q 3
| (x) = I for some fractional ideal I of OSa (Qe b ) }.
b
φ a
b
φ a N =1 φa

eb ∼
If −3a ∈ Q∗2 i.e. Q Q × Q, then obviously −3a ∈ Q∗2
φa = ℓ for all ℓ ∈ Z. We define


e ∗ /Q
N ′ (Sa (Q), a) := {(x1 , x2 ) ∈ Q e ∗3 | υℓ (x1 , x2 ) ≡ 0 (mod 3), ∀ℓ ∈
/ Sa (Q)}.
b
φ a
b
φ a N =1

eb ,
Let r1 , r2 be the number of real and conjugate pairs of complex embeddings of Q φa
respectively. Then similar to Prop. 2.15, we have:
16
Proposition 3.17.
(
0, if r2 = 1 and Qe b 6= K,
(1) dimF3 N (Sa (Q), a) = h3S (Qe ) e b )| + t, where t =
+ |Sa (Q φa
a ba
φ
φa
1, e b = K.
if either r1 = 2 or Q φa

(2) dimF3 N ′ (Sa (Q), a) = |Sa (Q)|. 

For every rational prime ℓ, we define the sets A∗ℓ /A∗3 ∗ ∗3
ℓ N =1 similar to the sets Aq /Aq N =1
for q ∈ ΣK . Then doing the local theory as in the subsection §3.1 and following the proof
of upper bound in Theorem 3.15, we arrive at the theorem below:
Theorem 3.18. Let Ea , Eba , φa , φba and Q
eb =
φa
Q[x]
(x2 −aα2 ) be as above. Then
e b is an imaginary quadratic field other than K = Q(ζ), then dimF Selφa (Ea /Q) ≤
(1) If Q φa 3

h3S e b )|.
+ |Sa (Q
e
a (Qφ
b ) φa
a
e b is either K or a real quadratic field, then dimF Selφa (Ea /Q) ≤ h3
(2) If Q +
φa 3 S e
a (Qφ
b )
a
e b )| + 1.
|Sa (Q φa
eφ ∼
(3) If Q φa
a = Q × Q, then dimF3 Sel (Ea /Q) ≤ |Sa (Q)|.
b
Replacing φba by φa and a by aα2 , we get that corresponding bounds for dimF3 Selφa (Eba /Q).
Remark 3.19. In [Ba], the author considers the φa -Selmer group of Ea /Q and computes
an upper bound of√Selφa (Ea /Q) using a finite set S1′ (Q) of Q. It seems [Ba] only considers
the case when Q( −3a) is a field, although it is not mentioned explicitly. We consider the
case −3a ∈ Q∗2 in Theorem 3.18. We give upper bounds for φa , 3-Selmer groups of Ea
over Q and K and also lower bounds for these Selmer groups over K. In §4, we consider
the Selmer groups of Type II curves as well. Note that Selmer groups over K, lower bounds
on them and√Selmer groups of Type II curves are not considered in [Ba].
When Q( −3a) is a field, our set Sa (Q) and the upper bound for Selφa (Ea /Q) coincide
with that of [Ba]. We bypass the computations for generators of the image of the Kummer
map using explicit divisors on Eba . Instead, we use the group A∗ /A∗3

ℓ ℓ N =1 .

Observe that the elliptic curves Eba are quadratic twists by −3 or −1/3 of the curves
√
Ea and Ea and E ba are isomorphic over Q( −3) = K. Let rk E(F ) denote the Mordell-Weil
rank of the curve E over the field F . We recall the following result [OP, Lemma 3.1]:
Lemma 3.20. Let Ea /Q and Eba /Q be curves defined as above. Let φa : Ea → Eba and
φba : E
ba → Ea be the 3-isogenies between them defined in §1. Then
(1) rk Ea (K) = rk Ea (Q) + rk Eba (Q) = 2 rk Ea (Q) = 2 rk Eba (Q).
(2) Sel3 (Ea /K) ∼ 3 3 b
= Sel (Ea /Q) ⊕ Sel (E
3 3
a /Q). So, dimF3 Sel (Ea /K) = dimF3 Sel (Ea /Q) +
ba /Q).
dimF3 Sel3 (E
b
(3) Sel (Ea /K) ∼
φ ba /Q). So, dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) = dimF3 Selφa (Ea /Q)+
= Selφa (Ea /Q)⊕Selφa (E
b
ba /Q).
dimF3 Selφa (E
(4) dimF3 X(Ea /K)[3] = dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3] + dimF3 X(Eba /Q)[3].
Proof. The curves Ea and E ba are isogenous over Q, hence they have the same rank. The
results (1), (2) and (4) follow immediately from [OP, Lemma 3.1], whereas the proof for
(3) is an easy generalization of proof of (2) using [OP, Lemma 3.1]. 
Remark 3.21. Note that dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /Q) ≤ dimF3 Selφa (Ea /Q) + dimF3 Selφaα2 (Eaα2 /Q) =
dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K), which can be computed from Theorem 3.18(1),(2).
17
3.3. Refined Bounds for Selmer Group over K.
Theorem 3.22. Let a 6∈ K ∗2 and a is sixth-power free in K. Then we have
h3Sa (L) ≤ dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) ≤ min{h3Sa (L) + |Sa (L)| + 2, h3S e + h3S e + |Sa (L)| + 1}.
a (Qφ
b ) aα2 (Qφa )
a

In particular, if a 6∈ K ∗2 and Sa = ∅, then dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) ∈ {h3L , h3L + 1} and it is
uniquely determined by the root number of Ea /Q.
/ K ∗2 , then by Theorem 3.15, h3Sa (L) ≤ dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K). Now, as a ∈
Proof. When a ∈ / K ∗2 ,
both Qe b and Q
e φ are quadratic fields and exactly one of them is complex and the
φa a

other is real. Also, none of them is K. Hence, by Theorem 3.18, dimF3 Selφa (Ea /Q) +
b
ba /Q) ≤ h3
dimF3 Selφa (E 3 e φa )|+1. Note that Selφ (Ea /K) ∼
e b )|+|Saα2 (Q
e ) +hS
S (Q e ) +|Sa (Qφ
(Q a
=
a ba
φ aα2 φa
b
Sel (Ea /K) ∼
φa
= Selφa (Ea /Q) ⊕ Selφa (Eba /Q) (by Lemma 3.20). Note also that |Sa (L)| =
e b )|+|Saα2 (Q
|Sa (Q e φ )|. Thus, by Theorems 3.15, 3.18 and Prop. 2.15, we get dimF Selφ (Ea /K) ≤
φa a 3

min{h3Sa (L) + |Sa (L)| + 2, h3S (Qe ) + h3S (Qe ) + |Sa (L)| + 1}.
a ba
φ aα2 φa

In particular, if Sa = ∅, then the fact that dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) ∈ {h3L , h3L + 1} follows
immediately from Lemma 2.14.
E ba ]
ba /Q)[φ
By [SS, Lemma 6.1], dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /Q) = dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) − dimF3 φaX( (X(Ea /Q)[3]) . The
last term is even by [BES, Prop. 42]. Hence, dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /Q) ≡ dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) (mod 2).
Now, the 3-parity conjecture for Ea /Q is
known due to Nekovář and Dokchitser-Dokchitser.
∞
If r := dimQ3 HomZ3 Sel3 (Ea /Q), Q3 /Z3 ⊗Q3 , then the root number ω(Ea /Q) = (−1)r . Also,
φ
it is easy to see that dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /Q) ≡ r (mod 2). So, ω(Ea /Q) = (−1)dimF3 Sel (Ea /K) . And
φ
hence, dimF3 Sel (Ea /K) is determined uniquely by ω(Ea /Q). 
Theorems 3.15 and 3.22 have the following consequence on the 3-Selmer group Sel3 (Ea /K):
/ K ∗2 , then we have max{h3Sa (L) , rk Ea (K)} ≤ dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) ≤
Corollary 3.23. If a ∈
2min{h3Sa (L) + |Sa (L)| + 2, h3S e + h3S e + |Sa (L)| + 1}.
a (Qφ
b ) aα2 (Qφa )
a

In particular, if a ∈
/ K ∗2
and Sa = ∅, then max{h3L , rk Ea (K)} ≤ dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) ≤ 2h3L + 2.
On the other hand, when a ∈ K ∗2 , rk Ea (K) ≤ dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) ≤ 2|Sa | + 2.
Ea (K)
Proof. As 3E a (K)
֒→ Sel3 (Ea /K), we know rk Ea (K) ≤ dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K). We have the
following exact sequence (see for example [SS, Lemma 6.1])
Ea (K)[φ] X(Ea /K)[φ]
0→ → Selφ (Ea /K) → Sel3 (Ea /K) → Selφ (Ea /K) → → 0. (11)
φ(Ea (K)[3]) φ(X(Ea /K)[3])
/ K ∗2 . Hence, equation (11) becomes
Note that Ea (K)[φ] = {O}, if a ∈
X(Ea /K)[φ]
0 → Selφ (Ea /K) → Sel3 (Ea /K) → Selφ (Ea /K) → →0 (12)
φ(X(Ea /K)[3])
X(Ea /K)[φ]
Thus, h3Sa (L) ≤ dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) ≤ dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) = 2 dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K)−dimF3 φ(X(Ea /K)[3]) ≤
φ
2 dimF3 Sel (Ea /K) ≤ 2min{h3Sa (L)
+ |Sa (L)| + 2, + h3S (Qe ) + |Sa (L)| + 1}.
h3S (Qe )
aα2 φa a ba
φ
∗2 3 φ Ea (K)[φ]
For a ∈ K , dimF3 Sel (Ea /K) = 2 dimF3 Sel (Ea /K)−dimF3 φ(Ea (K)[3]) −dimF3 φ(X(E X(Ea /K)[φ]
≤
a /K)[3])

2 dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) ≤ 2|Sa | + 2, the last inequality is due to Theorem 3.22. 
Remark 3.24 (Non-trivial X(Ea /K)). Observe that if a ∈ / K ∗2 , then by the duplication for-
mula, Ea (K)[3] = {O}. Then dimF3 X(Ea /K)[3] ≥ dimF3 X(Ea /K)[φ] = dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) −
Ea (K) Ea (K)
dimF3 φ(E a (K))
≥ dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) − dimF3 3(E a (K))
≥ h3Sa (L) − rk Ea (K). In the Table 2, we
18
have computed explicit examples where 0 ≤ rk Ea (K) < h3Sa (L) when a ∈/ K ∗2 . This shows
that X(Ea /K)[φ] (and hence X(Ea /K)[3]) is non-trivial in all these cases.
Remark 3.25. Let ϕ : E → E ′ be an isogeny between elliptic curves E, E ′ over F , where
either deg ϕ is p or ϕ is the multiplication by [p] map. Then [SS] give a general algorithm
for computing Selϕ (E/F ). However, the finite set S for p = 3 used in these algorithms [SS,
Prop. 3.2] differs from our corresponding set S, as they necessarily include the prime p | 3
in S, whereas we can exclude p from S in many cases. Note that in this article, we also
consider the lower bound on dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) and dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) using the 3-part of S-
class group of quadratic extensions of K, which is not considered in [SS]. For elliptic curves
with rational 3-isogeny, we make the bounds on dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) and dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K), in
terms of 3-class groups, sharper via more explicit and possibly easier computations.
We now compute rk Ea (Q) in terms of dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) and dimF3 X(Ea /K)[φ] as below:
Corollary 3.26. We have rk Ea (Q) = dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K)−dimF3 Ea (K)[φ]−dimF3 X(Ea /K)[φ].
As a consequence, we see that rk Ea (Q) ≤ dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) and the equality holds if and
/ K ∗2 and X(Ea /K)[φ] = 0. Moreover, if a ∈ K ∗2 , then rk Ea (Q) ≤ |Sa | and the
only if a ∈
equality holds if and only if X(Ea /K)[φ] = 0.
Proof. We have the following exact sequences of F3 -modules
φ
0 −→ Ea (K)[φ] −→ Ea (K)[3] −→ φ(Ea (K)[3]) −→ 0 (13)

φ
0 −→ X(Ea /K)[φ] −→ X(Ea /K)[3] −→ φ(X(Ea /K)[3]) −→ 0 (14)
So, by (13) we get, dimF3 Ea (K)[3] − dimF3 φ(Ea (K)[3]) = dimF3 Ea (K)[φ] and by (14) we
have dimF3 X(Ea /K)[3] − dimF3 φ(X(Ea /K)[3]) = dimF3 X(Ea /K)[φ].
Also, we know, rk Ea (K) = dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) − dimF3 X(Ea /K)[3] − dimF3 Ea (K)[3] and
X(Ea /K)[φ] Ea (K)[φ]
by (11), dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) = 2 dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) − dimF3 φ(X(E a /K)[3])
− dimF3 φ(E a (K)[3])
.

So, rk Ea (K) = 2 dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K)−dimF3 Ea (K)[φ]+dimF3 φ(Ea (K)[3])−dimF3 X(Ea /K)[φ]+
dimF3 φ(X(Ea /K)[3]) − dimF3 X(Ea /K)[3] − dimF3 Ea (K)[3]


= 2 dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) − dimF3 Ea (K)[φ] − dimF3 X(Ea /K)[φ] .

/ K ∗2 and
Now, by Lemma 3.20(1), rk Ea (K) = 2 rk Ea (Q). Also, dimF3 Ea (K)[φ] = 0 if a ∈
∗2
1 if a ∈ K . The result then follows immediately. 

Example (1): Let a = 2. Then a ∈ e b ) = Saα2 (Q

/ K ∗2 , Sa = Sa (Q e φ ) = ∅. Here, h3 ,
φa a L
3 3 φ
hQe and hQe are all 0. Hence, by Theorem 3.22, 0 ≤ dimF3 Sel (Ea /K) ≤ 1. Observe that
ba
φ φa

(−1, 1) ∈ Ea (Q) is a point of infinite order. Hence, rk Ea (Q) ≥ 1. So, by Corollary 3.26,
dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) = 1 and X(Ea /K)[φ] = 0. Also, by Corollary 3.23, dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) = 2.
Thus, both dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) and dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) achieve the upper bounds in Corollary
3.23 and Theorem 3.22.
Example (2): Let a = 7. Then a ∈ e b ) = Saα2 (Q
/ K ∗2 , Sa = Sa (Q e φ ) = ∅ and h3 = h3 =
φa a L e
Q ba
φ
φ
h3Qe = 0. Hence, by Theorem 3.22, 0 ≤ dimF3 Sel (Ea /K) ≤ 1. Now, the root number
φa

ω(Ea /Q) = 1 is known (from SageMath), we must have Selφ (Ea /K) = 0 which also implies
that Sel3 (Ea /K) = 0 (see (12)). Thus, both dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) and dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) attain
the lower bounds in Corollary 3.23 and Theorem 3.22. In particular, X(Ea /K)[3] = 0.
19
 e b ) = Saα2 (Q
/ K ∗2 , Sa = Sa (Q
Example (3): Let a = 359. Then a ∈ e φ ) = ∅. And h3 = 2,
φa a L
h3Qe = 1 and h3Qe = 1. Then by Theorem 3.22, 2 ≤ dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) ≤ 3. And from Sage-
ba
φ φa

Math, the root number ω(Ea /Q) = −1, so dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) = 3. We also have rk Ea (Q) =
rk Eba (Q) = 3 (using SageMath). Along with Remark 3.21, this gives dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /Q) ≤ 3
and dimF3 Sel3 (Eba /Q) ≤ 3. Thus, dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /Q) = dimF3 Sel3 (Eba /Q) = 3 and X(Ea /Q)[3] =
X(E ba /Q)[3] = 0. Thus, by Lemma 3.20, dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) = 6 and X(Ea /K)[3] = 0. Thus,
both dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) and dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) attain the upper bounds in Corollary 3.23 and
Theorem 3.22.
Example (4): Let a = 822. Then a ∈ e b ) = Saα2 (Q
/ K ∗2 , Sa = Sa (Q e φa ) = ∅. And h3 = 1,
φa L
h3Qe = 1 and h3Qe = 0. By Theorem 3.22, this gives 1 ≤ dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) ≤ 2. And from
ba
φ φa

SageMath, ω(Ea /Q) = −1, so dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) = 1. As explained in the proof of Theorem
E ba ]
ba /Q)[φ 3
3.22, using dimF3 φaX((X(Ea /Q)[3]) is even [BES, Prop. 42], we get that dimF3 Sel (Ea /Q) ≡
ba /Q) ≡ dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) (mod 2). Thus,
dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) (mod 2). Similarly, dimF3 Sel3 (E
3 b
dimF3 Sel (Ea /Q) = dimF3 Sel (Ea /Q) = 1. So, by Lemma 3.20, dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) = 2. Thus,
3

both dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) and dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) achieve their respective lower bounds in Corol-
lary 3.23 and Theorem 3.22.

4. Selmer Group for Curves of Type II

4.1. Local Theory for Type-II Curves. Recall that we have Type II curves Ea,b : y 2 =
x3 + a(x − b)2 , where ab(4a + 27b) 6= 0, a, b ∈ Z such that gcd(a, b) is square-free in K and the
rational 3-isogeny ψa,b : Ea,b → Eba,b , where Eba,b : y 2 = x3 − 27a(x − d)2 with d = 4a + 27b.
In this subsection, we give an explicit description of the Kummer maps δψa,b ,Kq for all q.

Proposition 4.1. [Ca3, §14,§15] Let Ea,b , E ba,b be elliptic curves of Type II and ψa,b :
ba,b be the K-isogeny defined in (3). Recall that d = 4a + 27b. We have the
Ea,b → E
Kummer map δψ ,K : E ba,b (Kq ) → (L∗q /L∗3
q )N =1 with Ker(δψ ,K ) = ψa,b (Ea,b (Kq )).
a,b q a,b q
(
1 if P = O,
If Lq is a field, then δψa,b ,Kq is given by δψa,b ,Kq (P ) = √
y(P ) − p3 a(x(P ) − d) otherwise;
If Lq ∼
= Kq × Kq , then δψa,b ,Kq is given by


(1, 1) if P = O,

(2p3 √ad, 1√ )
 √
if P = (0, p3 ad),
2p3 ad
δψa,b ,Kq (P ) = 1 √ √


 (− 2p3 ad , −2p3 ad)
√ if P = (0, −p3 ad),

(y(P ) − p3 √a(x(P ) − d), y(P ) + p3 √a(x(P ) − d)) if P ∈
/Eba,b [ψba,b ](Kq ).

Remark 4.2. As explained in §1, via the identification ψba,b = θ27 ◦ ψ−27a,d , it follows
b ba,b /K) ∼
that Selψa,b (E = Selψ−27a,d (E−27a,d /K). Further, writing gcd(−27a, d) = t2 g, where
g is square-free in K, E ba,b can be identified with E −27a d upto an isomorphism defined
,
t2 t2
ba,b
ba,b /K), it suffices to compute the bounds for
ψ
over K. Thus to compute bounds of Sel (E
ψa,b
Sel (Ea,b /K) for all a, b ∈ Z with gcd(a, b) square-free in K.
b
Lemma 4.3. Let ℓ ∈ Z be a prime. If F is a local field, ω is a prime in F and ϕ : E → E
is an ℓ-isogeny over F , then
20
 b has good reduction at ω.
(1) E has good reduction at ω if and only if E
b has split multiplicative
(2) E has split multiplicative reduction at ω if and only if E
reduction at ω. In this situation, E and Eb are curves of Kodaira type In and Iℓn
in some order, where n = −υω (j(E)).
Proof. The results are well-known and can be found in [S1, § 7]. 

4.1.1. Local theory at prime not dividing 3.

ba,b (Kq )
 
E A∗
/ Kq∗2 , then
Proposition 4.4. If a ∈ ψa,b (Ea,b (Kq )) = q
A∗3 = {1}.
q N =1
 b 
 Ea,b (Kq ) 
Proof. Since a ∈ / Kq∗2 , we have Ea,b (Kq )[ψa,b ] = {O}. By (8), we get  ψa,b (E a,b (Kq ))
 =
 
b
cq (Ea,b )  Ea,b (Kq )  cq (Ea,b ) ba,b (Kq )
E
cq (Ea,b ) and  ψ
b (Eb (K ))  = c (Eb ) . Thus, triviality of ψa,b (Ea,b (Kq )) follows easily and
q
  a,b a,b q a,b
A∗
q
A∗3 = {1} can be seen from Prop. 2.2. 
q N =1

Proposition 4.5. Let a ∈ Kq∗2 and Ea,b (or equivalently E ba,b ) has good reduction at q.
 b   
 Ea,b (Kq )  ba,b (Kq )
E ∼ Aq ∗
Then  ψa,b (E a,b (Kq ))
 = 3 and hence ψa,b (E a,b (Kq ))
= A∗3 .
q N =1
 
Proof. As a ∈ Kq∗2 , Ea,b [ψa,b ](Kq ) = 3 and again ||ψa,b ′ (0)||−1 = 1 by [Sc]. Since q is a
q
 Eba,b (Kq ) 
b  
good prime for Ea,b (and Ea,b ), we have ψa,b (Ea,b (Kq )) = 3 by (8). The result follows from
Prop. 2.2 and Lemma 3.1. 
Next, let q ∤ 3 be a prime of K such that a ∈ Kq∗2 and q divides the discriminant
∆Ea,b = −24 a2 b3 d of Ea,b . For each such q ∈ ΣK , we obtain the following local data using
Tate’s algorithm [S2, Ch. 4, Algo. 9.4], equation (8) and Prop. 2.2 and consolidate it in
Table 1.

4.1.2. Local theory at p | 3. Recall p is the unique prime dividing 3 in K.

ba,b be the 3-isogeny defined in (3).
/ Kp∗2 and ψa,b : Ea,b → E
Proposition 4.6. Let a ∈
ba,b (Kp )
 
E A∗
Then ψa,b (Ea,b (Kp )) ⊂ p
A∗3 .
p N =1

Proof. The proof is similar to Prop. 3.9 and is omitted here. 

We divide the study of image of local Kummer maps δψa,b ,Kp at p into three subcases -
3 ∤ ab, 3 | b and 3 | a.

4.1.3. Case-1: 3 ∤ ab . In this case, we find a p-minimal model for E ba,b and use it to
compute the image of the Kummer map.
Note that Ea,b : y 2 = x3 + a(x − b)2 is p-minimal and has good reduction at p. By Tate’s
algorithm [S2], the p-minimal model for E ba,b is given by

E2 : Y 2 = X 3 + a2 X 2 + b2 X + c2 , (15)



where a2 = −a(3 + 5ζ), b2 = a a(−5 + 2ζ) + 18bζ and c2 = a a (2 + 3ζ) − 2ab(1 − 9ζ) − 27b2 .
2 2

The following map θ : E2 → E−27a,d is then a GK -isomorphism and we denote

θ(x(P ), y(P )) = (x′ (P ), y ′ (P )) := (p2 (p2 x(P ) − a − ap), p6 y(P )). (16)

21
 a ∈ Kq∗2 and
Tamagawa Numbers
q divides ∆Ea,b
q | a and ba,b (Kq )
 ∗
E ∼ Aq
ba,b ) = 1
cq (Ea,b ) = cq (E = A∗3
υq (4ab2 ) ≡ 0 (mod 6) ψa,b (Ea,b (Kq )) q N =1
 ∗
q | a and ba,b ) = 3 b
Ea,b (Kq ) A
ψa,b (Ea,b (Kq )) ∩ A∗3 = {1}
q
cq (Ea,b ) = cq (E
υq (4ab2 ) ≡ 2 (mod 6) q N =1
 
q | a and ba,b ) = 3
ba,b (Kq )
E A∗q
υq (4ab2 ) ≡ 4 (mod 6)
cq (Ea,b ) = cq (E ψa,b (Ea,b (Kq )) ∩ A∗3 q N =1
= {1}
 
cq (Ea,b ) = 3υq (b) Eba,b (Kq ) A∗
q | b and q ∤ 2a ba,b ) = υq (b) {1} = ψa,b (E a,b (Kq ))
( Aq
q
∗3
cq (E N =1
 ∗
cq (Ea,b ) = υq (d) Aq Eba,b (Kq )
q | d and q ∤ 2a ba,b ) = 3υq (d) A∗3 ( ψa,b (Ea,b (Kq ))
cq (E q N =1
 ∗
q=2 ba,b ) = 3 ba,b (Kq )
E Aq
cq (Ea,b ) = cq (E ∩ = {1}
2 ∤ a and 2 ∤ b ψa,b (Ea,b (Kq )) A∗3
q N =1
q=2  
ba,b (Kq )
E A∗
ba,b ) = 3 q
2 ∤ a and 2||b
cq (Ea,b ) = cq (E ψa,b (Ea,b (Kq )) ∩ A∗3 = {1}
q N =1
 ∗
q = 2, cq (Ea,b ) = υq (d) − 2 Aq Eba,b (Kq )
ba,b ) = 3(υq (d) − 2) A∗3 ( ψa,b (E a,b (Kq ))
2 ∤ a and 4||b cq (E q N =1
 
q = 2, cq (Ea,b ) = 3(υq (b) − 2) ba,b (Kq )
E A∗
ba,b ) = υq (b) − 2 {1} = ψa,b (E (K )) ( A
q
∗3
2 ∤ a and 8 | b cq (E a,b q q N =1

Table 1. Local data at a prime q ∤ 3

The isogeny Ψa,b : Ea,b → E2 obtained by composition of maps θ−1 ◦ ψa,b , is given by
 ζ(x3 − a(3p + 5/3)x2 − 4abx + 4ab2 ) −y(x3 + 4abx − 8ab2 ) 
Ψa,b (x, y) = (X, Y ) := , . (17)
x2 x3
Then, using formal groups of elliptic curves as in [Sc, p. 92], we compute
X x a(3p + 5/3)x2 + 8abx − 12ab2 
Z := − =ζ· 1− = −ζ · z + O(z 2 ).
Y y x3 + 4abx − 8ab2
Hence, Ψ′a,b (0) = −ζ and ||Ψ′a,b (0)||−1
p = 1.
Since θ is a GK -isomorphism, it is easy to see that Selψa,b (Ea,b ) ∼
= SelΨa,b (Ea,b ). By slight
abuse of notation, we will often denote θ ◦ Ψa,b by Ψa,b .

Proposition 4.7. Let Ψa,b : Ea,b → Eba,b be the 3-isogeny defined in (17). We have
 b   
 Ea,b (Kp )  Eba,b (Kp ) A∗
/ Kp∗2 , then  Ψa,b (E
(1) If a ∈ a,b (Kp ))
 = 1 and Ψa,b (Ea,b (Kp )) ( p
A∗3 .
 b   p∗ N =1
  ba,b (Kp ) Ap
(2) If a ∈ Kp∗2 , then  Ψa,bE(E
a,b (Kp )
a,b (Kp ))
 = 3 and
E
Ψa,b (Ea,b (Kp )) ( A∗3 .
p N =1

ba,b (Kp ) 
Proof. From (8), we compute  Ψa,bE(E a,b (Kp ))
 in (1) and (2).
 ∗  
 Ap 
/ Kp∗2 , by Prop. 2.2, 
When a ∈ Ap
∗3  = 9, hence the strict inequality in (1) follows.
 ∗  N 
=1
 A 
When a ∈ Kp∗2 , by Prop. 2.2,  A∗3 p
 = 27. Thus, to complete the proof, it suffices to
p N =1
show, by Lemma 2.10, that υp (δΨa,b ,Kp (P )) ≡ 0 (mod 3) for all P ∈ Eba,b (Kp ).
We now prove that υp (δΨa,b ,Kp (P )) ≡ 0 (mod 3) for all P ∈ Eba,b (Kp ).
Consider P ∈ Eba,b (Kp )[Ψ
b a,b ]. Recall that 3 ∤ ab and p | 3, hence υp (a) = υp (d) = 0. Thus
3 √ √
υp (2p d a) = 3. So for P = (0, ±p3 d a), we have υp (δΨa,b ,Kp (P )) ≡ 0 (mod 3).
22
 ba,b (Kp )[Ψ √
b a,b ] and υp (y ′ (P )) 6= υp (p3 a(x′ (P ) − d)), then as in the proof of
Next, if P ∈ / E
Prop. 3.7(1), we get υp (δΨa,b ,Kp ((x′ (P ), y ′ (P )))) ≡ 0 (mod 3). So, we only consider the case
√
υp (y ′ (P )) = υp (p3 a(x′ (P ) − d)) = n, say.
√
Further, if υp (x′ (P )) = 0, then υp (y ′ (P )) = 0 but υp (p3 a(x′ (P ) − d)) ≥ 3, a contradiction.
Now, if υp (x′ (P )) < 0, since x′ (P ) = p2 (p2 x(P ) − a − pa), it implies that υp (x(P )) < 0 which
√
means υp (x(P )) = −2r for some r ≥ 3. Thus, υp (p3 a(x′ (P ) − d)) = −2r + 7 6= −3r + 6 =
υp (y ′ (P )). This is a contradiction.
√
Finally, the case x′ (P ) 6= 0 and υp (x′ (P )) > 0 and υp (y ′ (P )) = υp (p3 a(x′ (P ) − d)) can be
proved in a similar manner as in Lemma 3.9. 
Proposition 4.8. Let a ∈ Kp∗2 . Then we have V3 ba,b (Kp )).
= δΨa,b ,Kp (E
A∗3
p

Proof. Note that |Im δΨa,b ,Kp ◦θ| = 3 by Prop. 4.7. Let P ∈ E2 and (C, D) := δΨa,b ,Kp ◦θ(P ) =
δΨa,b ,Kp (x′ (P ), y ′ (P )). Then (C, D) ∈ (A∗p /A∗3 p )N =1 by Prop. 4.7. Recall that V3 = {(u1 , u2 ) ∈
∗3 ∗3
VKp × VKp | u1 u2 ∈ OK p
} and |V3 /Ap | = 3 from Prop. 2.8. Thus, it reduces to show that
∗3
Im (δΨa,b ,Kp ◦ θ) ⊂ V3 /Ap .
By Lemma 2.10, (υp (C), υp (D)) ≡ 0 (mod 3). Also, as elements of K ∗ /K ∗3 × K ∗ /K ∗3 ,
∗
(C, D) = (p−υp (C) u31 C, p−υp (D) u32 D) for any u1 , u2 ∈ OK p
.

So, p−υp (C) u31 C · p−υp (D) u32 D ∈ OK ∗3

p
. Hence, it is enough to show that there exists some
∗ −υ ∗ 3 3 ∗ 3 3
u ∈ OKp such that either p p (C) 3
u C ∈ (OK p
/UK p
) or p−υp (D) u3 D ∈ (OK p
/UK p
) .
′ ′ b b ′ 3
√ ′
For (x (P ), y (P )) ∈/ Ea,b [Ψa,b ](Kp ), recall that C = y (P ) − p a(x (P ) − d) and D =
√
y ′ (P ) + p3 a(x′ (P ) − d).
If υp (x(P )) ≥ 0, then υp (y(P )) ≥ 0. This implies, υp (y ′ (P )) ≥ 6, υp (x′ (P )) = 2, which shows
that υp (C) = υp (D) = 3. Then
√ √ √
p−3 C = p3 y(P ) − a(p4 x(P ) − p2 a − p3 a − d) ≡ a ap2 + ad (mod p3 )
√ √
≡ a a(p2 + 4) ≡ a a (mod p3 ),
where the last two congruences use the facts that d ≡ 4a (mod p3 ) and p2 + 4 ≡ 1 (mod p3 ).
√  O∗ 3
Kp
Hence, p−υp (C) ( a)−3 C = 1 ∈ 3
UK
.
p
For the rest of the proof, we deal with the case υp (x(P )) < 0. Thus, υp (x(P )) = −2r and
υp (y(P )) = −3r for some r ∈ N. By the theory of formal groups, there exists 0 6= z = pr w
∗
with w ∈ OK p
such that P (z) = P = (x(P ), y(P )) := (x(P (z)), y(P (z))) ∈ E2 (Kp ). We divide
this in two cases : r ≥ 2 and r = 1.
Case I : υp (x(P (z))) = −2r, where 0 6= z = pr w with r ≥ 2.
Thus, υp (x′ (P (z))) = −2r + 4 and υp (y ′ (P (z))) = −3r + 6, which in turn implies that υp (C) =
υp (D) = −3r + 6 ≤ 0. Now,
√ √ √ √
p3r−6 w3 C = z 3 y(P (z)) − w apr+1 z 2 x(P (z)) + w3 a ap3r−1 + w3 a ap3r + dw3 ap3r−3
≡ z 3 y(P (z)) ≡ −1 (mod p3 ).
 O∗ 3
Thus, p−υp (C) w−3 C = −1 ∈ U K3 p .
Kp

We are left with the case r = 1 i.e. υp (x(P (z))) = −2, which we divide in Case-II and
Case-III below.
Case II : υp (x(P (z))) = −2 and x(P (z)) 6= p12 (a + pa).
√
In this case, υp (y ′ (P (z))) = 3 and υp (p3 a(x′ (P (z)) − d)) = 3. Thus, atleast one of υp (C)
√ √
and υp (D) is 3. Further, w a ≡ ±1 (mod p) and we only prove the case w a ≡ −1 (mod p)
√
here. The case w a ≡ 1 (mod p) can be proved in a similar manner.
23
 √
Let z = pw and w a ≡ −1 (mod p). Then
√ √ √
p−3 w3 C ≡ z 3 y(P (z)) − w ap2 z 2 x(P (z)) + w3 a ap2 + dw3 a (mod p3 )
√ √ √
≡ −1 + a2 p2 w2 − w ap2 + w3 a ap2 + 4w3 a a (mod p3 )
√ √ √
≡ −1 + 4w3 a a + p2 (a2 w2 + w3 a a − w a) (mod p3 )
≡ −5 + a2 p2 ≡ −5 + ap2 ≡ −5 + p2 ≡ 1 (mod p3 ).
 O ∗ 3
Kp
Thus, p−υπ (C) w3 C = 1 ∈ 3
UK
.
p

Case III : Finally, suppose υp (x(P (z))) = −2 and x(P (z)) = p12 (a + pa).
We consider the points (x′ (P ), y ′ (P )) ∈ Eba,b [Ψ
b a,b ](Kp ). Then υp (x(P (z))) = −2 and x(P (z)) =
1 ′ 3 √ 1
p2 (a + pa). Here, x (P (z)) = 0, hence δ Ψa,b ,Kp ◦ θ(P (z)) = (±2p d a, ± 2p3 d√a ). Note that
√ √ √ √ √
p−3 (±2p3 d a) = ±2d a ≡ ±8a a = (±2 a)3 (mod p3 ). Thus, p−υp (C) (±2 a)−3 C = 1 ∈
 O∗ 3
Kp
U3
. This concludes the proof. 
Kp

4.1.4. Case-2: 3 | b . In this case, we assume that 3 | b (this implies 3 ∤ a) and try to
 
b A∗
understand the relationship between the groups Ψa,bE(E
a,b (Kp )
a,b (Kp ))
, AV∗3
3
and A∗3
p
.
p p N =1
2 3 2
By Tate’s algorithm, Ea,b : y = x +(a(x − b) is p-minimal and has Kodaira type In at
2, / Kp∗2 ,
if a ∈
p, where n = 3υp (b). Thus, cp (Ea,b ) =
3υp (b), if a ∈ Kp∗2 .
Observe that the equation of Eba,b : y 2 = x3 − 27a(x − d)2 is not p-minimal and by Tate’s
algorithm, the p-minimal model of Eba,b is given by E2 : Y 2 = X 3 + a2 X 2 + b2 X + c2 , where
a2 , b2 , c2 are as defined in (15). As in the previous case, θ : E2 → Eba,b as in (16) defines a
K-isomorphism and the isogeny Ψa,b : Ea,b → E2 is again given by (17).
Moreover, E2 has Kodaira type In at p, where n = υp (b). Thus, cp (E2 ) = 2, if a ∈ / Kp∗2
b
and cp (E2 ) = υp (b), if a ∈ Kp . In particular, note that cp (Ea,b ) = 3cp (Ea,b ), when a ∈ Kp∗2 .
∗2

Using formal groups, we have that Ψ′a,b (0) = −ζ and hence, ||Ψ′a,b (0)||−1 p = 1.

Lemma 4.9. Let Ψa,b : Ea,b b

 → Ea,b , be the 3-isogeny bdefined above.  ∗We have (whether or
∗2  Eba,b (Kp )  Ea,b (Kp ) Ap
not a ∈ Kp )  Ψa,b (Ea,b (Kp ))  = 1 and thus trivially, Ψa,b (Ea,b (Kp )) ( A∗3 .
p N =1

Proof. This follows easily from the above discussion and using (8). 

4.1.5. Case-3: 3 | a . We finally consider the case, 3 | a; this implies 3 ∤ b. We study

 
Eba,b (Kp ) V3 A∗
the bounds for Ψa,b (Ea,b (Kp )) using A∗3 and p
A∗3 .
p p N =1  
A∗
/ Kp∗2 , then we already know that {1} =
If a ∈ V3
δΨa,b ,Kp (E ⊂ba,b (Kp )) ⊂ p
from
A∗3 A∗3
p p N =1
Props. 4.6 and 2.8.
From now on, we take a ∈ Kp∗2 . First, we consider the special case when 36 | d = 4a + 27b,
then 27 || a. Set a1 = − 27a
and b1 = 3d6 . Then E ba,b ∼= Ea1 ,b1 and Ea,b = E ba ,b . Note that
1 1
∗2
3 ∤ a1 and a1 ∈ Kp . Then following a similar proof as in Case 1 §4.1.3 and Case 2 §4.1.4,
it follows that:  ∗
ba,b (Kp ) Ap
3 ∼ E
(1) If 36 || d or equivalently, 3 ∤ b1 , we see that AV∗3 = Ψ a,b (E a,b (K p )) ⊂ A∗3 .
p
b
p
  N =1
A∗
(2) If 37 | d or equivalently 3 | b1 , then {1} = Ψa,bE(E
a,b (Kp )
a,b (Kp ))
( p
A∗3 .
p N =1
We summarize this in the following remark:
24
Remark 4.10. For a ∈/ Kp∗2 , we have |V3 /A∗3 p | =1 by Prop. 2.8. Then
V3 b A∗
(1) If 3 ∤ a, then A∗3 = δΨa,b ,Kp (Ea,b (Kp )) ( A∗3p
by Props. 4.7(1) and 4.9(1).
p p
 N =1
ba,b (Kp )) ⊂ A∗
(2) If 3 | a, then AV∗3
3
⊂ δΨa,b ,Kp (E p
A∗3 by Prop. 4.6.
p p N =1
∗2 ∗3
For a ∈ Kp , we have |V3 /Ap | = 3 by Prop. 2.8.  ∗
Then
V3 b Ap
(1) If 3 ∤ ab, then A∗3 = δΨa,b ,Kp (Ea,b (Kp )) ( A∗3 by Prop. 4.8.
p p
N =1
∗ 
Ap
(2) If 3 | b, then {1} = δΨa,b ,Kp (Eba,b (Kp )) ( V3
A∗3 ( A∗3 by Prop. 4.9(2).
b
p
p ∗N=1
3 ∼ E (K ) A
(3) If 27 || a and 36 || d, then AV∗3 a,b
= Ψa,b (E p
a,b (Kp ))
( A∗3 p
by Props. 4.7(2) and 4.8.
p
b
p
∗ 
N =1
E (K ) A
(4) If 27 || a and 37 | d, then {1} = Ψa,b (E
a,b p
a,b (Kp ))
( AV∗3
3
( A∗3 p
by Lemma 4.9(2).
p p N =1

4.2. Bounds for ψ-Selmer Group of Type II Curves. Recall that Selψa,b (Ea,b /K) ∼ =
SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K). In this subsection, we give bounds on dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) and dimF3 Sel3 (Ea,b /K)
in terms of dimF3 ClS (L)[3] for certain S that we define shortly.
Recall that a, b ∈ Z with gcd(a, b) square-free in K. In particular, 3 ∤ gcd(a, b). Set

(  ∗2
{2OK }, if a ∈ K2∗2 , 2
∤ a and 4 ∤ b, {p}, if a ∈ Kp , p | a and υp (a) 6= 6,
T2,1 := T3,1 := {p}, if a ∈ Kp∗2 , υp (a) = 6 and υp (d) < 12,
∅, otherwise. 

∅, otherwise.
( (
{2OK }, if a ∈ K2∗2 , 2 ∤ a and 8 | b, {p}, if a ∈ Kp∗2 , p | b and p ∤ a,
T2,2 := T3,2 :=
∅, otherwise. ∅, otherwise.
( (
{2OK }, if a ∈ K2∗2 , 2 ∤ a and 4 || b, {p}, if a ∈ Kp∗2 and υp (d) > 12,
T2,3 := T3,3 :=
∅, otherwise. ∅, otherwise.

Definition 4.11. We define the following subsets of ΣK , the set of all finite primes of K:
n o
S1 = q ∈ ΣK \ {p} | a ∈ Kq∗2 , q | a and υq (4ab2 ) 6≡ 0 (mod 6) ∪ T2,1 ∪ T3,1 ,
n o
S2 = q ∈ ΣK \ {p} | a ∈ Kq∗2 , q | b and q ∤ 2a ∪ T2,2 ∪ T3,2 and
n o
S3 = q ∈ ΣK \ {p} | a ∈ Kq∗2 , q | d and q ∤ 2a ∪ T2,3 ∪ T3,3 .

We remark that S1 , S2 and S3 are pairwise disjoint finite sets of primes of K.

Definition 4.12. Let L be a field. Define the following subsets of ΣL
S1,2 (L) = {Q ∈ ΣL | Q ∩ OK ∈ S1 ∪ S2 } and S1,3 (L) = {Q ∈ ΣL | Q ∩ OK ∈ S1 ∪ S3 }.
Remark 4.13. Using Tate’s algorithm, we observe that if q ∈ S1 ∪ S2 (including q = p),
then Ea,b and Eba,b have either split multiplicative reduction or additive reduction of Kodaira
type IV or IV ∗ at q. Similarly, if q ∈ S1 ∪ S3 (including q = p), then Ea,b and E ba,b have
either split multiplicative reduction or additive reduction of Kodaira type IV or IV ∗ at q.


The subgroups M (S1 ∪ S2 , a), N (S1 ∪ S3 , a) and N ′ (S1 ∪ S3 , a) of L∗ /L∗3 N =1
are defined
in Prop. 2.16.
Theorem 4.14. We have the inclusion of groups and the inequalities of their 3-ranks:
/ K ∗2 , then M (S1 ∪ S2 , a) ⊂ SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ⊂ N (S1 ∪ S3 , a). Hence, h3S1,2 (L) ≤
(1) If a ∈
dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ≤ h3S1,3 (L) + |S1,3 (L)| + 2.
25
 (2) If a ∈ K ∗2 , then SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ⊂ N ′ (S1 ∪ S3 , a). Hence, dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ≤
|S1 ∪ S3 | + 1.
Proof. Let a ∈ / K ∗2 . From Props. 4.4, 4.5 and Table 1 (for q ∤ 3) and Props. 4.6, 4.7, 4.9
and Remark 4.10 (for p | 3), it follows that Im (δΨa,b ,Kq ) ⊂ (A∗q /A∗3
q )N =1 for all q ∈
/ S1 ∪ S3 .
Ψa,b
Thus, by Prop. 2.16, Sel (Ea,b /K) ⊂ N (S1 ∪ S3 , a).
On the other hand, it follows from Props. 4.4, 4.5 and Table 1, that (A∗q /A∗3 q )N =1 ⊂
Im(δΨa,b ,Kq ) for q ∈
/ S1 ∪ S2 ∪ {p}. Further, from Props. 4.7, 4.9, Remark 4.10, it follows
that V3 /A∗3
p ⊂ Im (δΨa,b ,Kp ), if p ∈/ S1 ∪ S2 . Thus, from Prop. 2.16, we get M (S1 ∪ S2 , a) ⊂
SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K).
Now, if a ∈ K ∗2 , then from Prop. 4.5 and Table 1 (for q ∤ 3) and Props. 4.7, 4.9 and
Remark 4.10 (for p | 3), it follows that Im (δΨa,b ,Kq ) ⊂ (A∗q /A∗3
q )N =1 for all q ∈
/ S1 ∪ S3 .
Hence, by Prop. 2.16, SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ⊂ N ′ (S1 ∪ S3 , a).
In both cases (1) and (2), the statements about ranks follow directly from Prop. 2.15. 
b ba,b /K), we have the bounds
Remark 4.15. Similarly, for SelΨa,b (E
b
/ K ∗2 , then h3S1,3 (L) ≤ dimF3 SelΨa,b (Eba,b /K) ≤ h3S1,2 (L) + |S1,2 (L)| + 2.
(1) If a ∈
b
(2) If a ∈ K ∗2 , then dimF3 SelΨa,b (Eba,b /K) ≤ |S1 ∪ S2 | + 1.
Theorem 4.14 and Remark 4.15 have the following consequence on Sel3 (Ea,b /K):
Corollary 4.16. If a ∈/ K ∗2 , then it follows from [SS, Lemma 6.1] that
max{h3S1,2 (L) , rk Ea,b (K)} ≤ dimF3 Sel3 (Ea,b /K) ≤ h3S1,2 (L) + h3S1,3 (L) + |S1,2 (L)| + |S1,3 (L)| + 4.

If a ∈ K ∗2 , then rk Ea,b (K) ≤ dimF3 Sel3 (Ea,b /K) ≤ |S1 ∪ S2 | + |S1 ∪ S3 | + 2. 

/ K ∗2 and 3 ∤ a, then
Corollary 4.17 (Refined Bounds). If a ∈
max{h3S1,2 (L) , h3S1,3 (L) + |S3 | − |S2 | − 1} ≤ dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K)
≤ min{h3S1,2 (L) + |S1,2 (L)| + |S3 | − |S2 | + 1, h3S1,3 (L) + |S1,3 (L)| + 2}.
In particular, if S1 ∪ S2 ∪ S3 is empty, then dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ∈ {h3L , h3L + 1}.
Proof. Using [Ca2, Eq. (1.22), (1.26) and (3.4)], we get that
b Y
|SelΨa,b (Eba,b /K)| ba,b (K)[Ψ
|E b a,b ]| |Ea,b (C)[Ψa,b ]| |Ea,b (Kq )[Ψa,b ]|
Ψa,b
= · · .
|Sel (Ea,b /K)| |Ea,b (K)[Ψ a,b ]| b b
|Ea,b (C)/Ψa,b (Ea,b (C))| q∈ΣK |Ea,b (Kq )/Ψa,b (Ea,b (Kq ))|
(18)
 Eba,b (Kq )  ||Ψ ′
(0)|| −1
·|E (K b
q )[Ψa,b ]|·cq (Ea,b )
Also   =
Ψa,b (Ea,b (Kq ))
a,b q a,b
cq (Ea,b ) a,b
′
, where ||Ψ (0)||
q
−1
= 1 in both the
cases when either q 6= p or q = p and 3 ∤ a by (8). Now, note that |Ea,b (C)[Ψa,b ]| = 3 and
ba,b (C) is surjective. Thus, (18) becomes
b
|SelΨa,b (E
ba,b /K)| Q cq (Ea,b )
Ψa,b : Ea,b (C) → E |SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K)|
=3· ba,b ) .
c q (E
q∈ΣK
Define S ′ := {q ∈ ΣK | cq (Ea,b ) = 3cq (Eba,b )} and S ′′ := {q ∈ ΣK | cq (Eba,b ) = 3cq (Ea,b )}.
b
Ψ a,b b
Then |Sel (Ea,b /K)| ′ ′′

|SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K)|

= 3|S |−|S |+1 . Under the assumption 3 ∤ a, it is easy to see from
the local theory of Type II curves (Table 1, §4.1.4) that S ′ = S2 and S ′′ = S3 . Thus,
b
|SelΨa,b (E
ba,b /K)|
|SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K)|
= 3|S2 |−|S3 |+1 . Rearranging the terms and using Remark 4.15 gives
b
dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) = dimF3 SelΨa,b (E ba,b /K) + |S3 | − |S2 | − 1 ≥ h3
S1,3 (L) + |S3 | − |S2 | − 1. This
Ψa,b
along with Theorem 4.14 gives dimF3 Sel (Ea,b /K) ≥ max{hS1,2 (L) , h3S1,3 (L) +|S3 |−|S2 |−1}.
3

26
 b
Similarly by Remark 4.15, dimF3 SelΨa,b (Eba,b /K) + |S3 | − |S2 | − 1 = dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ≤
h3S1,2 (L) +|S1,2 (L)|+|S3 |−|S2 |+1. This along with Theorem 4.14 gives dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ≤
min{h3S1,2 (L) + |S1,2 (L)| + |S3 | − |S2 | + 1, h3S1,3 (L) + |S1,3 (L)| + 2}. 
Example: Take a = 29 and b = 76. Then S1 = S2 = ∅ and S3 = {2OK }. Also, h3S1,2 (L) =
h3L = 1 and h3S1,3 (L) = 0. So, by Corollary 4.17, 1 ≤ dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ≤ 3.

5. Applications
We now highlight some applications of the results obtained in §3.1, §3.2, §4.1 and §4.2,
5.1. Cubic twists. The elliptic curves Ea : y 2 = x3 + a admit cubic twists by cube-free
integers D, given by y 2 = x3 + aD2 , EaD2 in our notation. In §5.1, we study variation of
dimF3 Selφ (EaD2 /K) of cubic twists of a fixed curve Ea and use it to compute rk E16D2 (Q).
E. Selmer [Sl] studied the question when a cube-free integer D can be written as a sum
of two rational cubes. It is well-known that a cube-free integer D > 2 can be written as a
sum of two rational cubes if and only if rk E−432D2 (Q) > 0. Now, the curves x3 + y 3 = D
and E−432D2 are isomorphic over K. Moreover, E−432D2 is isomorphic to E16D2 over K and
they are 3-isogenous over Q. Thus, rk E−432D2 (Q) = rk E16D2 (Q). Also, E16D2 is a cubic
twist of E16 by D. In view of this, it is important to study cubic twists of the elliptic curve
E16 and the rational cube sum problem for D reduces to computing rk E16D2 (Q).
Let ℓ be a rational prime. Then the special cases of cubic twists of E−432 by ℓ, ℓ2 and
2ℓ are well-studied and inspired by Sylvester’s conjecture (cf. [DV], [RZ], [Syl]). It is
predicted that


0, if ℓ ≡ 2, 5 (mod 9)
rk E−432ℓ2 (Q) = rk E16ℓ2 (Q) = 1, if ℓ ≡ 4, 7, 8 (mod 9)


0 or 2, if ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9).
For ℓ ≡ 2, 5 (mod 9), Sylvester himself proved the conjecture. Under suitable hypothesis,
we prove this conjecture in Corollary 5.5 for all ℓ ≥ 5. Sylvester has proved that ℓ2 can
not be written as a rational cube sum if ℓ ≡ 2, 5 (mod 9). Towards the cube sum problem
for ℓ2 , we determine rk E16ℓ4 (Q) in Corollary 5.6 for all ℓ ≥ 5. Further, if ℓ ≡ 5 (mod 9),
then Sylvester proved that 2ℓ is not a rational cube sum. In Corollary 5.7, we extend his
result and obtain rk E16·(2ℓ)2 (Q) = rk Eℓ2 (Q) for all ℓ ≥ 5.
For a ∈ K ∗2 and Sa ⊂ ΣK  defined
 in §3.2, recall byTheorem 3.15, Props. 2.15 and
∗  
φ A∗ ∗
OS OS K∗ K∗ ∼
1.1 that Sel (Ea /K) ⊂ A∗3 Sa
= O∗3 × O∗3
a a
⊂ K ∗3 × K ∗3 = H 1 (GK , Ea [φ]).
  Sa N =1 Sa Sa N =1 N =1
A∗
Thus, (x, x2 ) ∈ Sa
A∗3
is in Selφ (Ea /K) if and only if (x, x2 ) ∈ Im δφ,Kq for all q. Also,
Sa N =1
by Theorem 3.15, dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) ≤ |Sa | + 1. We will use these facts for a ∈ {ℓ2 , 16ℓ2 , 16ℓ4 }
in Theorems 5.1-5.4 to determine dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K). We start with a = 16ℓ2.
Theorem 5.1. Let ℓ ≥ 5 be a prime and φ : E16ℓ2 → E16ℓ2 be the 3-isogeny in (2). Then


1, if ℓ ≡ 2, 5 (mod 9),
φ
dimF3 Sel (E16ℓ2 /K) = 2, if ℓ ≡ 4, 7, 8 (mod 9),


3, if ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9).
Proof. We divide the proof in two cases ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3) and ℓ ≡ 2 (mod 3). First we consider
the case ℓ ≡ 2 (mod 3). Note that in this situation, ℓ is inert in K and so S16ℓ2 = {ℓOK }.
 A∗ 
S
The group of S16ℓ2 -units in K is generated by ±ζ and ℓ and hence, A∗3
16ℓ2
=
S
16ℓ2 N =1
27
 2 2
 A∗ 
S
h(ζ , ζ), (ℓ , ℓ)i. Now Selφ (E16ℓ2 /K) ⊂ A∗3
16ℓ2
and 1 ≤ dimF3 Selφ (E16ℓ2 /K) ≤ 2. Observe
S
16ℓ2 N =1
2 2
1
that δφ,Kq (0, 4ℓ) = ( 8ℓ , 8ℓ) = (ℓ , ℓ) for all q. Hence, (ℓ , ℓ) ∈ Selφ (E16ℓ2 /K).
2
 A∗ 
S ∗
16ℓ2
We now investigate the other generator (ζ , ζ) of A∗3
. Since ζ ∈ OK , it
S
16ℓ2 N =1
2

follows that (ζ , ζ) ∈ A∗q /A∗3
q for all q ∈ ΣK . By Prop. 3.7(2), we know that
N =1

2
δφ,Kℓ (E16ℓ2 (Kℓ )) ∩ A∗ℓ /A∗3
ℓ N =1 = {(1, 1)}. So, (ζ , ζ) ∈ Im δφ,Kℓ if and only if ζ ∈ OK ∗3
ℓ
.
2
This happens if and only if ℓ ≡ ±1 (mod 9). Thus, if ℓ ≡ 2 or 5 (mod 9), then (ζ , ζ) ∈ /
Im δφ,Kℓ and hence, dimF3 Selφ (E16ℓ2 /K) = 1. On the other hand, if ℓ ≡ 8 (mod 9), then
2 2
(ζ , ζ) ∈ Im δφ,Kℓ . Also, (ζ , ζ) ∈ Im δφ,Kq for all q ∈ / {ℓ, p} by Prop. 3.7(1). Hence, we are
2
reduced to examine whether (ζ , ζ) ∈ Im δφ,Kp , for ℓ ≡ 8 (mod 9). Note that 16ℓ2 − 1 ≡ −3
(mod 9), so there exists α ∈ 1 + 3Z3 such that 16ℓ2 − 1 = −3α2 . Consequently, we have
2
P = (−1, pζα) ∈ E16ℓ2 (Kp ). One can compute that δφ,Kp (P ) is (ζ , ζ) if ℓ ≡ 17 (mod 27)
and (ζ 2 (1 + p3 )2 , ζ(1 + p3 )) if ℓ ≡ 8 or 26 (mod 27). Now, ((1 + p3 )2 , (1 + p3 )) ∈ V3 /A∗3
p and
∗3 2
V3 /Ap ⊂ Im δφ,Kp , by Prop. 3.12. We conclude that (ζ , ζ) ∈ Im δφ,Kp . This shows that
dimF3 Selφ (E16ℓ2 /K) = 2, if ℓ ≡ 8 (mod 9).

Let us now consider the case ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3). In this case, one can write ℓ = 41 (L2 + 27M 2)
for some integers√
L and M . Note that√ the prime ℓ splits as ℓ = πℓ πℓ′ in OK , where
πℓ = 21 (L + 3M −3) and πℓ′ = 21 (L − 3M −3). Observe that S := S16ℓ2 = {πℓ OK , πℓ′ OK }.
′
Thus, S-units of K are
∗
 generated by ±ζ, πℓ and πℓ2. Hence, one sees that 2
A
Selφ (E16ℓ2 /K) ⊂ A∗3S
= h(ζ, ζ 2 ), (πℓ , πℓ 2 ), (πℓ′ , πℓ′ )i = h(ζ, ζ 2 ), (πℓ , πℓ 2 ), (ℓ, ℓ )i. As in the
S N =1
2
case of ℓ ≡ 2 (mod 3), we see that (ℓ, ℓ ) ∈ Selφ (E16ℓ2 /K) and (ζ, ζ 2 ), (πℓ , πℓ 2 ) ∈ Im δφ,Kq for
all q ∈
/ S ∪ {p}.

Now, we show that (πℓ , πℓ 2 ) ∈ Selφ (E16ℓ2 /K) for all ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3). Let ·· 3 denote  
the
πℓ
cubic residue symbol. By the trick of Evans [Le, Pg. 215], the cubic residues πℓ′ and
 ′
 3
πℓ
πℓ are equal and further they are equal to 1, as πℓ and πℓ′ are complex conjugates.
3
2
 K∗ ∗
Kπ

As a consequence, we see that (πℓ , πℓ 2 ) = (ℓ, ℓ ) ∈ πℓ
Kπ
∗3 × Kπ
∗3
ℓ
and hence, (πℓ , πℓ 2 ) ∈
ℓ ℓ N =1 ∗
K ′ ∗
Kπ ′

π
Im δφ,Kπℓ . Similarly, one can deduce that (πℓ , πℓ 2 ) = (1, 1) ∈ ∗3
Kπ
ℓ
× ∗3
Kπ
ℓ
and so,
′
ℓ
′
ℓ
N =1
(πℓ , πℓ 2 ) ∈ Im δφ,Kπ′ . To check whether (πℓ , πℓ 2 ) ∈ Im δφ,Kp , we first consider ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9).
ℓ √
Using the fact that ℓ = 41 (L2 + 27M 2 ), we obtain L ≡ ±2 (mod 9). So, πℓ = 21 (L + 3 −3M ) ≡
√ 3
UK
5(±2 + 3 −3M ) (mod 9). Hence, πℓ ≡ 5L ≡ ±1 (mod p3 ) and thus, πℓ ∈ U 4 p . Then using
Kp

Lemma 2.7, (πℓ , πℓ 2 ) ∈ V3 /A∗3 p ⊂ Im δφ,Kp . On the other hand, if ℓ ≡ 4, 7 (mod 9), then
3
ℓ ∈
/ UK p
and (ℓ, ℓ 2 ), ((1 + p3 ), (1 + p3 )2 ) ∈ Im δ
φ,Kp . Now from Lemma 3.8, |Im δφ,Kp | = 9.
Hence, it can be deduced that Im δφ,Kp = h(ℓ, ℓ2 ), ((1 + p3 ), (1 + p3 )2 )i. Further, a similar
but more involved computation as in the ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9) case shows that (πℓ , πℓ 2 ) ∈ Im δφ,Kp
in ℓ ≡ 4, 7 (mod 9) case as well. Hence, we conclude that (πℓ , πℓ 2 ) ∈ Selφ (E16ℓ2 /K) whenever
ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3).
/ Kπℓ , if ℓ ≡ 4, 7 (mod 9), it is easy to see that (ζ, ζ 2 ) is not in Im δφ,Kπℓ , in
Next, as ζ9 ∈
2
this case. Hence, dimF3 Selφ (E16ℓ2 /K) = dimF3 h(ℓ, ℓ ), (πℓ , πℓ 2 )i = 2, when ℓ ≡ 4, 7 (mod 9).
2
On the other hand, for ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9), we have (ζ, ζ ) = (1, 1) ∈ Im δφ,Kπℓ , Im δφ,Kπ′ and
ℓ
16ℓ2 − 1 = −3α2 for some α ∈ 1 + 3Z3 which implies P = (−1, pζα) ∈ E16ℓ2 (Kp ). By
28
 2
Lemma 2.7 and a tedious computation, we get δφ,Kp (P ) is (ζ, ζ ) if ℓ ≡ 10 (mod 27) and
(ζ(1 + p3 ), ζ 2 (1 + p3 )2 ) if ℓ ≡ 1 or 19 (mod 27). As before, ((1 + p3 ), (1 + p3 )2 ) ∈ V3 /A∗3
p ⊂
2
Im δφ,Kp and we again deduce that (ζ, ζ ) ∈ Im δφ,Kp . Thus, for ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9), one has
dimF3 Selφ (E16ℓ2 /K) = 3. This concludes the proof. 

Using a similar method as in Theorem 5.1, we obtain the result for curves E16ℓ4 below:
Theorem 5.2. Let ℓ ≥ 5 be a prime and φ : E16ℓ4 → E16ℓ4 be the 3-isogeny in (2). Then


1, if ℓ ≡ 2, 5 (mod 9),
dimF3 Selφ (E16ℓ4 /K) = 2, if ℓ ≡ 4, 7, 8 (mod 9),


3, if ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9).
2
Proof. The proof differs from Theorem 5.1 in showing (ζ, ζ ) ∈ Im δφ,Kp for ℓ ≡ ±1 (mod 9).
In these cases, one needs some modification in choosing α in order to compute Im δφ,Kp . 

Next, we compute dimF3 Selφ (E16·(2ℓ)2 /K) = dimF3 Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) for primes ℓ ≡ 2 (mod 3).
Theorem 5.3. Let ℓ ≥ 5 be a prime such that ℓ ≡ 2 (mod 3) and φ : Eℓ2 → Eℓ2 be the
3-isogeny given in (2). Then
(
φ 1, if ℓ ≡ 5 (mod 9),
dimF3 Sel (Eℓ2 /K) =
2, if ℓ ≡ 2, 8 (mod 9).

Proof. Here, Sℓ2 = {2OK , ℓOK } and OS∗ ℓ2 = h±ζ, 2, ℓi = h±ζ, 2, 2ℓi. Then Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) ⊂
 A∗  2 2
S 2
A∗3
ℓ
= h(ζ , ζ), (4, 2), (4ℓ , 2ℓ)i and 1 ≤ dimF3 Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) ≤ 3.
S
ℓ2 N =1

2
From Prop. 3.7(2), δφ,K2 (Eℓ2 (K2 )) ∩ A∗2 /A∗32 N =1 = {(1, 1)} and hence (ζ , ζ) ∈
/ Im δφ,K2 .
2 2
1
Observe that δφ,Kq (0, ℓ) = ( 2ℓ , 2ℓ) = (4ℓ , 2ℓ) for all q and hence (4ℓ , 2ℓ) ∈ Selφ (Eℓ2 /K).
Thus, 1 ≤ dimF3 Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) ≤ 2 for ℓ ≡ 2 (mod 3).
 A∗ 
S 2
We now investigate the remaining generator (4, 2) of . Note that for primes
A∗3
ℓ

ℓ2 N =1 S

/ Sℓ2 ∪ {p}, (4, 2) ∈ A∗q /A∗3

q ∈ q N =1 = Im δφ,Kq (Prop. 3.7(1)). Thus it reduces to verify



whether (4, 2) ∈ Im δφ,Kq for q ∈ Sℓ2 ∪ {p}. Notice that the cubic residues 2ℓ 3 = 2ℓ 3 = 1, as

ℓ


ℓ ≡ 2 (mod 3). Hence, (4, 2) = (1, 1) = A∗ℓ /A∗3
ℓ N =1 ∩Im δφ,Kℓ . Similarly, using 2 3 = 1, we
2
get (4, 2) = (4ℓ , 2ℓ) ∈ Im δφ,K2 . Thus, it remains to check whether or not (4, 2) ∈ Im δφ,Kp .
Let us first consider ℓ ≡ 2, 8 (mod 9). Then 4ℓ2 ≡ 2ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3) and so 4ℓ2 , 2ℓ ∈ 1 + 3Z3 ⊂
3
UK
2
UK . On the other hand, 4ℓ2 , 2ℓ ∈ 3
/ UK . Note that 4
p ∼
= V3
by Lemma 2.7 and V3
⊂
p p UK A∗3
p A∗3
p
p
2
2 UK
Im δφ,Kp by Prop. 3.12. It follows that Im δφ,Kp = h(4ℓ , 2ℓ), ((1 + p3 )2 , (1 + p3 ))i ∼
= 4
UK
p
. As
p
2
UK
4∈ 4
UK
p
, we see that (4, 2) ∈ Im δφ,Kp . Hence, dimF3 Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) = 2, when ℓ ≡ 2, 8 (mod 9).
p

Finally, we take ℓ ≡ 5 (mod 9). Here, ℓ2 − 1 ≡ −3 (mod 9), ∃α ∈ 1 + 3Z3 such that ℓ2 − 1 =
2
−3α2 . Consequently, P = (−1, pζα) ∈ Eℓ2 (Kp ). We compute that δφ,Kp (P ) is (ζ , ζ) if ℓ ≡
14 (mod 27), (ζ 2 (1 + p3 )2 , ζ(1 + p3 )) if ℓ ≡ 5 (mod 27) and (ζ(1 + p3 ), ζ 2 (1 + p3 )2 ) if ℓ ≡ 23
2
(mod 27). As ((1 + p3 )2 , (1 + p3 )) ∈ AV∗3 3
⊂ Im δφ,Kp , we conclude that (ζ , ζ) ∈ Im δφ,Kp .
p
2 2 4


In fact, Im δφ,Kp = h(ζ , ζ), ((1 + + p3 ))i. Let f UK
p3 )2 , (1 /UK be the isomorphic copy of
2 4 1 4 ∼ ∗
p
∗3

p 3 4
UKp /UKp , under the isomorphism f : UKp /UKp −→ Ap /Ap N =1 . As ζ ∈ / UK p
/UK p
, we see
29
 2
UK
3
UK 2
UK 3
UK
that Im δφ,Kp ∩ f 4
p ∼
= 4
p
. Since 4 ∈ 4
p
\ 4
p
/ Im δφ,Kp and
, we deduce that (4, 2) ∈
UK p
UK p
UK p
UK p
φ
hence, not in Sel (Eℓ2 /K).
2
We have shown above for ℓ ≡ 5 (mod 9) that (4ℓ2 , 2ℓ) ∈ Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) and (4, 2), (ζ , ζ) ∈
/
 A∗  2
S 2
Selφ (Eℓ2 /K). There are four subgroups of ℓ
A∗3
of order 9 containing (4ℓ , 2ℓ). To
S
ℓ2 N =1
2
conclude that dimF3 Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) = 1, it suffices to show that h(4ζ , 2ζ)i 6⊂ Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) and
2 2
2
h(2ζ , 4ζ)i 6⊂ Selφ (Eℓ2 /K). First we consider (4ζ , 2ζ). As 2ℓ 3 = 1, we identify (4ζ , 2ζ) with
2 A∗
A∗

(ζ , ζ) in A∗3 ℓ
N =1
. Recall that Im δφ,Kℓ ∩ A∗3
ℓ
N =1
= {(1, 1)} by Prop. 3.7(2). Given ℓ ≡ 5
ℓ ℓ
2 2
/ Im δφ,Kℓ and so it is not in Selφ (Eℓ2 /K). A similar
(mod 9), we have (4ζ , 2ζ) = (ζ , ζ) ∈
2
argument works for (2ζ , 4ζ). This shows dimF3 Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) = 1, when ℓ ≡ 5 (mod 9). 
In the following theorem, we compute dimF3 Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) for primes ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3).
Theorem 5.4. Let ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3) be a prime and
φ : Eℓ2 → Eℓ2 be the 3-isogeny given in
(2). Let the prime ℓ split as πℓ πℓ′ in OK and ·· 3 be the cubic residue symbol. Then


2

1, if ℓ ≡ 1, 7 (mod 9) and πℓ 3 6= 1,
φ
dimF3 Sel (Eℓ2 /K) = 2, if ℓ ≡ 4 (mod 9),

 2


3, if ℓ ≡ 1, 7 (mod 9) and πℓ 3 = 1.
Proof. We write ℓ = πℓ πℓ′ such that πℓ = m + nζ. In this case, it is possible to choose
m ≡ 1 (mod 3) and n ≡ 0 (mod 3). Here, Sℓ2 = {2OK , πℓ , πℓ′ } and OS∗ 2 = h±ζ, 2, πℓ , πℓ′ i =
 A∗S  ℓ
2 2
h±ζ, 2, πℓ , 2ℓi. Also Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) ⊂ ℓ2
A∗3
= h(ζ , ζ), (4, 2), (πℓ 2 , πℓ ), (4ℓ , 2ℓ)i and 1 ≤
S
ℓ2 N =1
2
dimF3 Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) ≤ 4. As in the previous case, (4ℓ , 2ℓ) ∈ Selφ (Eℓ2 /K), being the image
2
of (0, ℓ) under δφ,Kq for all q and on the other hand, (ζ , ζ) ∈ / Im δφ,K2 and hence not
φ φ
in Sel (Eℓ2 /K). Thus,
1 ≤ dimF3 Sel (Eℓ2 /K) ≤ 3. Moreover, for primes q ∈ / Sℓ2 ∪ {p},
(4, 2), (πℓ 2 , πℓ ) ∈ A∗q /A∗3
q N =1 = Im δφ,Kq .

First, consider the case ℓ ≡ 1, 7 (mod 9) and π2ℓ 3 = 1. We now check whether (4, 2),


(πℓ 2 , πℓ ) ∈ Im δφ,Kq at primes q ∈ Sℓ2 ∪ {p}; we start with (4, 2). Our assumption π2ℓ 3 =


1 implies π2′ 3 = 1. Thus, (4, 2) = (1, 1) ∈ Im δφ,Kπℓ and Im δφ,Kπ′ . Using the law of
ℓ ℓ

′

2
cubic reciprocity, π2ℓ 3 = π2ℓ 3 = 1. This implies 2ℓ 3 = 1 and so, (4, 2) = (4ℓ , 2ℓ) ∈
Im δφ,K2 . Now, following the proof of Theorem 5.3, ℓ ≡ 2, 8 (mod 9) case, we see that
2
2
∼ UK4 p . As 4 ∈ U 2 , (4, 2) ∈ Im δφ,K and thus, it is
Im δφ,Kp = h(4ℓ , 2ℓ), ((1 + p3 )2 , (1 + p3 ))i = UKp Kp p

φ


in Sel (Eℓ2 /K). Next, we investigate (πℓ , πℓ ). Again by the trick of Evan, ππℓ′ 3 = 1, we get
2

ℓ
(πℓ 2 , πℓ ) = (1, 1) ∈ Im δφ,Kπ′ . Further, π2ℓ 3 = 1 gives (πℓ 2 , πℓ ) = (1, 1) ∈ Im δφ,K2 . These two
ℓ
2
observations also imply that (πℓ 2 , πℓ ) = (4ℓ , 2ℓ) ∈ Im δφ,Kπℓ . Finally, using πℓ = m + nζ,
where m ≡ 1 (mod 3) and n ≡ 0 (mod 3), we get πℓ ≡ 1 (mod p2 ). So, πℓ ∈ UK 2 . Now
p
2
UK
using Im δφ,Kp ∼
= , we have (πℓ 2 , πℓ ) ∈ Im δφ,Kp and hence dimF3 Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) = 3.
4
UK
p

p

2
Next, consider the case ℓ ≡ 1, 7 (mod 9) and π2ℓ 3 6= 1. We already have (4ℓ , 2ℓ) ∈
 A∗  2
S
Selφ (Eℓ2 /K). There are 13 distinct subgroups of A∗3ℓ2 of order 9 containing (4ℓ , 2ℓ).
S 2 N =1
ℓ
 A∗  . 2
S
There are 13 generators corresponding to order 3 subgroups of A∗3ℓ2 h(4ℓ , 2ℓ)i in
S 2 N =1
 A∗  2
ℓ
S 2 2
ℓ
viz. (4, 2), (ζ , ζ), (π , π ), (4ζ 2 , 2ζ), (2ζ 2 , 4ζ), (4π 2 , 2π ), (4π , 2π 2 ), (ζ 2 π 2 , ζπ ),
A ∗3 ℓ ℓ ℓ ℓ ℓ ℓ ℓ ℓ
S 2
ℓ N =1
30
(ζπℓ2 , ζ 2 πℓ ), (4ζ 2 πℓ2 , 2ζπℓ ), (2ζ 2 πℓ2 , 4ζπℓ ), (4ζπℓ2 , 2ζ 2 πℓ ) and (2ζπℓ2 , 4ζ 2 πℓ ). A long and tedious
2
calculation using the theory of cubic residues shows that (ζ , ζ), (πℓ2 , πℓ ) ∈ / Im δφ,K2 , whereas
(4, 2), (4πℓ2 , 2πℓ ), (4πℓ , 2πℓ2 ) ∈/ Im δφ,Kπ′ and the rest of the generators are not in Im δφ,Kp . So,
ℓ

none of these 13 generators belong to Selφ (Eℓ2 /K). Thus we conclude dimF3 Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) = 1.
Finally, we consider the case ℓ ≡ 4 (mod 9). We already have (4ℓ2 , 2ℓ) ∈ Selφ
(Eℓ2 /K). We
divide this case into 3 subcases, depending on whether the cubic residue π2ℓ 3 is equal to
1, ζ or ζ 2 . In each of these subcases, using the theory of cubic residues, we examine all the
13 generators


mentioned above and observe the following:
If πℓ 3 = 1, then (4πℓ , 2πℓ2 ) ∈ Selφ (Eℓ2 /K), whereas (4, 2), (πℓ2 , πℓ ), (4πℓ2 , 2πℓ ) ∈/ Im δφ,Kp
2

and the rest of the generators are not in Im δφ,Kπ′ .

ℓ

If π2ℓ 3 = ζ, then (2ζπℓ2 , 4ζ 2 πℓ ) ∈ Selφ (Eℓ2 /K), whereas (4ζ 2 , 2ζ), (4ζ 2 πℓ2 , 2ζπℓ ) ∈
/ Im δφ,Kπℓ
2
and (πℓ , πℓ ) ∈
/ Im δφ,K2 , while the rest of the generators are not in Im δφ,Kπ′ .

ℓ

If π2ℓ 3 = ζ 2 , then (2ζ 2 πℓ2 , 4ζπℓ ) ∈ Selφ (Eℓ2 /K), whereas (2ζ 2 , 4ζ), (4ζπℓ2 , 2ζ 2 πℓ ) ∈
/ Im δφ,Kπℓ
2 / Im δφ,K2 , while the rest of the generators are not in Im δφ,Kπ′ .
and (πℓ , πℓ ) ∈
ℓ

Thus, for each of these cases, dimF3 Selφ (Eℓ2 /K) = 2, when ℓ ≡ 4 (mod 9). 

Now we are ready to discuss the rational cube sum problems for ℓ, 2ℓ and ℓ2 , where ℓ is
a prime. We start with ℓ and as a consequence of Theorem 5.1, we compute rk E16ℓ2 (Q).

Corollary 5.5. (1) If ℓ ≡ 2, 5 (mod 9), then rk E16ℓ2 (Q) = 0.

(2) If ℓ ≡ 4, 7, 8 (mod 9) and dimF3 X(E16ℓ2 /Q)[3] is even, then rk E16ℓ2 (Q) = 1.
(3) If ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9), rk Ea (Q) > 0 and dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3] is even, then rk E16ℓ2 (Q) = 2.
In all these cases above, X(E16ℓ2 /Q)[3] = X(E16ℓ2 /K)[3] = 0.

Proof. Take a = 16ℓ2 and let φa : Ea → Eba and φba : Eba → Ea be the rational 3-isogenies
defined in §1. Then |Ea (Q)[3]| = |Ea (Q)[φa ]| = 3 and |Eba (Q)[3]| = |Eba (Q)[φba ]| = 1. Note also
ba (Q) as the curves are isogeneous over Q. We set R := X(Ea /Q)[φa ]
that rk Ea (Q) = rk E φb (X(E
b /Q)[3]) a a
X(E ba /Q)[φ
ba ]
and R′ := φa (X(Ea /Q)[3]) . Then by [SS, Lemma 6.1], we have an exact sequence:

Ea (Q)[φa ] b
ba /Q) → Sel3 (E
ba /Q) → Selφa (Ea /Q) → R → 0
0→ → Selφa (E (19)
φba (E
ba (Q)[3])
b Ea (Q)[φa ]
So, dimF3 Sel3 (Eba /Q) = dimF3 Selφa (Ea /Q) + dimF3 Selφa (Eba /Q) − dimF3 ba (E
φ ba (Q)[3]) − dimF3 R =
φ
dimF3 Sel (Ea /K) − dimF3 R − 1; the last equality is due to Lemma 3.20. By Theorem 5.1,


0 − dimF3 R, if ℓ ≡ 2, 5 (mod 9)
ba (Q) + dimF3 X(E
rk E ba /Q) = 1 − dimF R, if ℓ ≡ 4, 7, 8 (mod 9)
ba /Q)[3] = dimF3 Sel3 (E
3


2 − dimF3 R, if ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9).

Hence, rk Eba (Q) = X(Eba /Q)[3] = 0, if ℓ ≡ 2, 5 (mod 9). So, rk Ea (Q) = 0 in this case. As
Ea has CM over K, dimF3 X(Ea /K)[3] is even [Če, Theorem 1.10]. Recall by Lemma 3.20,
dimF3 X(Ea /K)[3] = dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3]+dimF3 X(E ba /Q)[3]. Thus assuming dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3]
b
is even, we get dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3] too is even. So


 if ℓ ≡ 2, 5 (mod 9),
ba /Q)[3] = 0
X(E if ℓ ≡ 4, 7, 8 (mod 9) and dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3] is even,


if ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9), rk Ea (Q) > 0 and dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3] is even.
31
 Now X(Eba /Q)[3] = 0 clearly implies R′ = 0. Next, writing a similar exact sequence as (19)
for Sel3 (Ea /Q) gives dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /Q) = dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) − dimF3 R′ . Then by Theorem 5.1,
(
3 2, if ℓ ≡ 4, 7, 8(mod 9) and dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3] is even,
dimF3 Sel (Ea /Q) =
3, if ℓ ≡ 1(mod 9), rk Ea (Q) > 0 and dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3] is even.
We also know that dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /Q) = dimF3 Ea (Q)[3] + rk Ea (Q) + dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3] =
1 + rk Ea (Q) + dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3]. Hence,
(
1, if ℓ ≡ 4, 7, 8 (mod 9) and dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3] is even,
rk Ea (Q) =
2, if ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9), rk Ea (Q) > 0 and dimF3 X(Ea /Q)[3] is even.
In both the cases above, X(Ea /Q)[3] = 0. This together with X(Eba /Q)[3] = 0 gives
X(Ea /K)[3] = 0 in all the three cases. 
Using Theorems 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4, we calculate rk E16ℓ4 (Q) and rk Eℓ2 (Q). The proofs are
similar to Corollary 5.5 and are omitted to avoid redundancy in the literature:
Corollary 5.6. (1) If ℓ ≡ 2, 5 (mod 9), then rk E16ℓ4 (Q) = 0.
(2) If ℓ ≡ 4, 7, 8 (mod 9) and dimF3 X(E16ℓ4 /Q)[3] is even, then rk E16ℓ4 (Q) = 1.
(3) If ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9), rk E16ℓ4 > 0 and dimF3 X(E16ℓ4 /Q)[3] is even, then rk E16ℓ4 (Q) = 2.
In all of these cases, X(E16ℓ4 /Q)[3] = X(E16ℓ4 /K)[3] = 0. 
Corollary 5.7. (1) If ℓ ≡ 5 (mod

9), then rk Eℓ2 (Q) = 0.
(2) If ℓ ≡ 1, 7 (mod 9) and π2ℓ 3 6= 1, then rk Eℓ2 (Q) = 0.
(3) If ℓ ≡ 2, 4, 8 (mod 9) and
dimF3 X(Eℓ /Q)[3] is even, then rk Eℓ (Q) = 1.
2 2
2
(4) If ℓ ≡ 1, 7 (mod 9), πℓ 3 = 1, rk Eℓ2 (Q) > 0 and dimF3 X(Eℓ2 /Q)[3] is even, then
rk Eℓ2 (Q) = 2.
In all these cases above, X(Eℓ2 /Q)[3] = X(Eℓ2 /K)[3] = 0. 
Remark 5.8. We continue with the cube sum problem for 2ℓ and take ℓ to be a prime,
ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3). Using the fact that rk Eℓ2 (Q) = rk E−27ℓ2 (Q), the assumption in Corollary
5.7 that dimF3 X(Eℓ2 /Q)[3] is even, can be removed in the following particular families of
elliptic curves. For all of these curves, we produce explicit rational points of infinite order:
(1) Let ℓ be of the form ℓ = t2 + 27, then (ℓ, tℓ) ∈ E−27ℓ2 (Q) is
a point of infinite order.
(2) Let ℓ be of the form ℓ = s6 + 3t2 , where 3 ∤ t, then s3ℓ2 , 9tℓ
s3 ∈ E−27ℓ (Q) is a point of
2

infinite order.

(3) Let ℓ be of the form ℓ = s6 + 27t2 , then s3ℓ2 , 27tℓ
s3 ∈ E−27ℓ2 (Q) is a point of infinite
order.
Thus in all the cases above, rk E−27ℓ2 (Q) ≥ 1 and 2ℓ is a rational cube sum.
Remark 5.9. In general, one can derive an upper bound on the rank of cubic twists EaD2
of Ea , by a cube-free integer D, in terms of an upper bound on rk Ea (Q) and the number
of prime divisors of D. Assume a ∈ K ∗2 . Then by Corollary 3.26, rk EaD2 (Q) ≤ |SaD2 | ≤
|Sa | + ω(D), where ω(D) is the number of distinct prime ideals appearing in the prime
/ K ∗2 .
factorization of DOK . In fact, a similar statement can be made if a ∈
Remark 5.10 (The assumption on even rank of 3 part of Tate-Shafarevich group). Let
X(E/Q)[3∞ ]div denote the maximal
divisible subgroup of X(E/Q)[3∞ ]. Then X(E/Q) ∼ =
X(E/Q)div ⊕ X(E/Q)/X(E/Q)div
. By Cassels-Tate pairing, it is well-known that
dimF3 X(E/Q)[3∞ ]/X(E/Q)[3∞]div [3] is even. It follows from the above discussion:

2t
dimF3 X(E/Q)[3] is even ⇐⇒ dimF3 X(E/Q)div [3] is even ⇐⇒ X(E/Q)[3∞ ] ∼ = Q3 /Z3 for
some t ≥ 0.
32
 Of course, a part of the BSD conjecture predicts that X(E/Q) is finite, in particular
X(E/Q)[3∞ ] is finite i.e. t = 0 above. Then it is true that dimF3 X(E/Q)[3] is even.
Note that [MR, Conjecture XT2 (K)] explicitly states that dimF2 X(E/Q)[2] is even.
Let E ∈ {Eℓ2 , E16ℓ2 , E16ℓ4 }. We have assumed that dimF3 X(E/Q)[3] is even in Corollaries
5.5(2),(3), 5.6(2),(3) and 5.7(2),(3).
Remark 5.11. Again let E ∈ {Eℓ2 , E16ℓ2 , E16ℓ4 }. One sees that the assumption dimF3 X(E/Q)[3]
is even in Corollaries 5.5-5.7 can be replaced by the assumption dimF3 X(E/K)[φ] is even.
Remark 5.12. We emphasize that we neither use the 3-parity conjecture nor do we as-
sume the 3-part of the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer (the BSD) conjecture for the curves
E16ℓ2 /Q, E16ℓ4 /Q and Eℓ2 /Q in Corollaries 5.5, 5.6 and 5.7, respectively.
Remark 5.13 (Some related works). The cube sum problem and Sylvester’s conjecture
are considered, for certain n ∈ N in the recent articles [DV], [CST], [KL], [SY] and [RZ].
We consider the cube sum problem for ℓ, ℓ2 and 2ℓ i.e. we study rk Ea (Q) for a ∈
{16ℓ2, 16ℓ4 , ℓ2 } and ∀ primes ℓ ≥ 5. In [KL] and [CST], the authors prove that rk Eℓ2 (Q) = 1
if ℓ ≡ 2 (mod 9). In [DV], for primes ℓ ≡ 4, 7 (mod 9), under the hypothesis that 3 is not
a cube modulo ℓ, the authors prove that rk E16ℓ2 (Q) = rk E16ℓ4 (Q) = 1. [RZ] consider the
primes ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 9) assuming the BSD conjecture and provide three non-trivial criteria
to check whether rk E16ℓ2 (Q) is 0 or 2. In [MS], the authors give examples of infinitely
many primes ℓ ≡ ±1 (mod 9), which can be expressed as a sum of two rational cubes. On
the other hand, none of the above articles have considered the cube sum problem for 2ℓ
with ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3) a prime or for primes ℓ ≡ ±1 (mod 9), which are considered by us.
Let p ≥ 5 be a fixed prime. Now we study the variation of φ-Selmer rank in the family
E16pℓ2 of cubic twists by primes ℓ of E16p . The following result is of a similar flavor as
[SPT, Theorem 3.8].
Proposition 5.14. Let p ≥ 5 be a prime and consider the cubic twists of E16p by rational
primes ℓ. Then the density of primes ℓ such that dimF3 Selφ (E16pℓ2 /K) ∈ {h3L , h3L + 1} is at
least 1/4.


Proof. Let Tp := {ℓ ∈ ΣQ | ℓ ∤ 6p, ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3) and pℓ = −1}. Then ℓ ∈ Tp satisfies

either
p
ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 12) or ℓ ≡ 7 (mod 12). If ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 12), then we know that ℓ = −1 if and


only if pℓ = −1. It follows that the density of primes ℓ such that ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 12) and
p

p


ℓ = −1 is 1/8. Similarly, the density of primes ℓ such that ℓ ≡ 7 (mod 12) and ℓ = −1
is again 1/8. We deduce that the density of the set Tp is 1/4. Now, observe that S16p = ∅
and S16pℓ2 = S16p ⊔ {l ∈ ΣK | l | ℓ}. Hence, S16pℓ2 = ∅ for all ℓ ∈ Tp . So by Theorem 3.22,
dimF3 Selφ (E16pℓ2 /K) ∈ {h3L , h3L + 1}. 
Remark 5.15. In the general case, take a ∈ / K ∗2 and consider the cubic twists of Ea by
rational primes ℓ. Then one can show that there is a set of primes ℓ of positive density
such that dimF3 Selφ (Eaℓ2 /K) ∈ {h3Sa (L) , h3Sa (L) + |Sa (L)| + 2}.
5.2. Arbitrary large rank of 3-Selmer groups of elliptic curves over K. We start
with an example of an infinite family of elliptic curves with a rational 3-isogeny, no non-
trivial 3-torsion point over K and arbitrary large 3-Selmer group over K.
Theorem 5.16. Given any n ≥ 0, there exist infinitely many elliptic curves Ea,b : y 2 =
x3 + a(x − b)2 with a, b ∈ Z such that dimF3 Sel3 (Ea,b /K) ≥ dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ≥ 2n. In
particular, this shows there are infinitely many elliptic curves Ea,b with a K -rational 3-
isogeny, no non-trivial 3-torsion point over K and arbitrary large 3-Selmer rank over K.
33
Proof. Take a = p1 p2 ···p42n+1 −27 , where pi ’s are all distinct rational primes and each pi ≡ −1
(mod 12). Then p1 p2 · · · p2n+1 = 12s − 1 for some s. Then a = 12s−28 4 = 3s − 7 ≡ −1 (mod 3).
Hence, a ∈/ K ∗2 . Moreover, note that 3 ∤ a and a ∈ / Kp∗2 . Now take b = 1. Consider the
sets S2 , S3 from the Definition 4.11 and observe that here S2 = ∅, as no prime q ∈ ΣK
divides b. We get d = 4a + 27b = p1 p2 · · · p2n+1 . So, each pi | d and
pi ∤ 2a. Also, since
each pi ≡ −1 (mod 12), we see that each pi is inert in K and −3 pi = −1 for all i. And
a

−3a

∗2
hence, either pi = 1 or pi = 1. Thus, a ∈ Kpi for all pi . This implies that each
pi ∈ S3 . In fact, S3 = {p1 , · · · , p2n+1 }. Indeed, if q 6= pi for any i, then q ∤ d, so q ∈
/ S3 . As
a∈/ Kp∗2 , p ∈
/ S3 and as 2 ∤ b, 2OK ∈ / S3 . Thus, |S3 | = 2n + 1. By Corollary 4.17, we get that
dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ≥ 2n. 
Remark 5.17 (Other works related to Theorem 5.16). In [Ca1], Cassels showed that
dimF3 Sel3 (E/Q) of a class of elliptic curves, each of which has a point P ∈ E(Q) of order
3, can be arbitrarily large. On the other hand, for certain p ≥ 5, there are several results
proving that dimFp Selp (E/Q) can be arbitrarily large (see for example [KS]). Our result on
dimF3 Sel3 (Ea,b /K) in Theorem 5.16 is obtained under the assumption that the elliptic curves
Ea,b /Q have a K-rational 3-isogeny, Ea,b (K)[3] = 0 and j(Ea,b ) 6= 0. In their recent article
[BKOS], the authors show that for a fixed number field F and r ≥ 1, almost all elliptic
curves E/F with a cyclic F -rational 9-isogeny have a positive proportion of quadratic
twists Es with X(Es /F )[3] ≥ 9r (see [BKOS, Theorem 1.3] for a precise statement). Note
that there are important works of Mazur-Rubin on large corank of p∞ -Selmer groups.
Lemma 5.18. Let a′ be a square-free integer coprime to 3. Set a = 16a′ , if a′ ≡ 1
(mod 4), and a = a′ , otherwise. Then there exist infinitely many b ∈ Z such that the sets
S1 and S2 , as in Definition 4.11, corresponding to a, b are both empty.
 ′

Proof. Set Ta′ := ℓ ∈ ΣQ | ℓ ∤ 3a′ , ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3) and aℓ √ = −1 . There are infinitely many
rational primes ℓ ≡ 1 (mod 3) which remain inert in Q( a′ ). From this, it is easy√to see
√
that Ta′ is an infinite set. Note that for a given a as in the statement, Q( a) = Q( a′ ). It
is now easily verifiable that for this a and for each of the infinitely many b ∈ Ta′ , the sets
S1 and S2 in the Definition 4.11 are both empty. 
We have the following interesting consequence of Lemma 5.18:
Corollary 5.19. Given a biquadratic number field L′ containing ζ, there exist infinitely
many elliptic curves Ea,b and Eba,b having
b
ba,b /K) − 2 ≤ dimF3 Cl(L′ )[3] ≤ dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ≤ dimF3 Sel3 (Ea,b /K).
dimF3 SelΨa,b (E
√ √
Proof. Note that L′ ∼ = Q( −3, a′ ) for some square-free integer a′ . Since −3a′ ∈ L′ , we
may assume 3 ∤ a′ . Take a = 16a′ if a′ ≡ 1 (mod 4) and a = a′ otherwise. For this fixed
integer a, consider the elliptic curves Ea,ℓi , where ℓi ∈ Ta′ , where Ta′ is the set defined in
8 3
Lemma 5.18. Observe that the j-invariant of Ea,ℓi , j(Ea,ℓi ) = − 2ℓ3 (4a+27ℓ
a(a+6ℓi )
i)
. It is easy to see
i
that there are at most four choices of ℓj such that j(Ea,ℓi ) = j(Ea,ℓj ). Namely, ℓj must be a
root of the degree 4 polynomial x3 (4a + 27x)(a + 6ℓi)3 = (a + 6x)3 ℓ3i (4a + 27ℓi). As S1 ∪ S2 = ∅
for all these Ea,ℓi and we have infinitely many such primes ℓi , we get the desired result by
Theorem 4.14. 
5.3. Positive 3-rank of ideal class groups of biquadratic fields. We recall the fol-
lowing well-known conjecture (cf. [BG]):
Conjecture 5.20. Let n > 1 be an integer and F be a number field. Then rk Cl(F̃ )[n] is
unbounded when F̃ runs through the extensions of F of degree [F̃ : F ] = d.
34
 When n and d are coprime, this conjecture is wide open and only a few cases are known.
Using our method, we discuss a modest evidence of this conjecture. More precisely, we
give examples of infinitely many biquadratic and imaginary quadratic fields with positive
3-rank of ideal class groups.
Theorem 5.21. Given any integer n, there √
exist distinct square-free integers D1 , D2 , · · · , Dn
such that the biquadratic fields Li := Q(ζ, Di ) have dimF3 h3Li ≥ 1 for all 1 ≤ i ≤ n.
Proof. Consider the curve E16 : y 2 = x3 + 16. Let n be any given integer. Then by [OP,
Theorem 3.2], there exist square-free integers D1 , D2 , · · · , Dn such that the quadratic twists
Di Di
E16 : y 2 = x3 + 16Di3 of E16 by Di ’s all satisfy rk E16 (Q) ≥ 2. Note that the set S16Di3 in
Definition 3.13 is empty, for all 1 ≤ i ≤ n. Hence, by our Corollary 3.26, we get that
2 ≤ rk E16Di 3 (Q) ≤ h3Li + 1, which implies that h3Li ≥ 1. 
Note that using different geometric methods that involve considering a suitable curve
over K, the result in Theorem 5.21 is known [BG, Theorem 1.4].
Corollary 5.22. For any given integer n, there exist distinct imaginary quadratic fields
F1 , F2 , · · · , Fn with dimF3 h3Fi ≥ 1 for all 1 ≤ i ≤ n.
√
Proof.
√
Let Di ’s be as in Theorem 5.21. Set di = min{Di , −3Di }, Fi = Q( di ) and Li =
Q(ζ, Di ) for 1 ≤ i ≤ n. Then h3Li is either 2h3Fi or 2h3Fi − 1 by Scholz’s reflection principal
[Sz] and Lemma 2.14. In either cases, by Theorem 5.21, it is clear that each h3Fi ≥ 1. 

Tables
Table 2 contains the bounds on dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) and dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) computed using
SageMath/Magma for Type I elliptic curves Ea . The following shorthand notation is
used in Table 2: r := rk Ea (K), sφl := h3Sa (L) , sφu := min {h3Sa (L) + |Sa (L)| + 2, h3Sa (Fa ) +
h3S 2 (F 2 ) + |Sa (Fa )| + |Saα2 (Faα2 )| + 1}, s3l := max {r, sφl } and s3u := 2sφu . Note that sφl ≤
aα aα

dimF3 Selφ (Ea /K) ≤ sφu and s3l ≤ dimF3 Sel3 (Ea /K) ≤ s3u by Theorem 3.22 and Corollary 3.23.

35
 a Sa Sa (Q) Saα2 (Q) |Sa (L)| ClSa (L) (L) r sφ
l sφ
u s3l s3u

5 {2OK } {2} ∅ 2 trivial 2 0 3 2 6

15 {p} {3} ∅ 2 trivial 4 0 3 4 6
29 {2OK } {2} ∅ 2 trivial 0 0 3 0 6
33 {2OK , p} {3} {2} 4 trivial 2 0 5 2 10
77 {2OK } {2} ∅ 2 Z/2 2 0 3 2 6
85 {2OK } {2} ∅ 2 Z/2 0 0 3 0 6
1025 {2OK , 5OK } ∅ {2, 5} 4 trivial 6 0 5 6 10
1373 {2OK } {2} ∅ 2 Z/3 × Z/3 6 2 5 6 10
58 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 2 1 2 2 4
62 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/6 2 1 2 2 4
67 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/6 2 1 2 2 4
74 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/6 × Z/2 2 1 2 2 4
79 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/6 × Z/3 4 2 3 4 6
82 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/24 2 1 2 2 4
83 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/6 2 1 2 2 4
142 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/3 4 2 3 4 6
235 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/3 2 2 3 2 6
254 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/6 × Z/3 2 2 3 2 6
326 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/3 2 2 3 2 6
568 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/3 6 2 3 6 6
574 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 4 2 3 4 6
730 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 × Z/2 6 2 3 6 6
842 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/30 × Z/6 4 2 3 4 6
874 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 2 2 3 2 6
892 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/6 × Z/3 6 2 3 6 6
895 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 2 2 3 2 6
898 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/60 × Z/3 4 2 3 4 6
899 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 6 2 3 6 6
934 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/3 4 2 3 4 6
1090 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 × Z/2 6 2 3 6 6
1264 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/6 × Z/3 2 2 3 2 6
1339 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 × Z/2 4 2 3 4 6
1342 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 × Z/2 6 2 3 6 6
1384 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/3 4 2 3 4 6
1436 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/3 4 2 3 4 6
1714 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/24 × Z/3 × Z/3 2 3 4 3 8
2230 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 × Z/3 0 3 4 3 8
2263 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/6 × Z/6 × Z/6 2 3 4 3 8
2659 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/6 × Z/3 × Z/3 2 3 4 3 8
3023 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/3 × Z/3 2 3 4 3 8
3391 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/6 × Z/3 × Z/3 8 3 4 8 8
3667 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/6 × Z/6 × Z/6 2 3 4 3 8
4094 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 × Z/3 6 3 4 6 8
4151 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 × Z/3 2 3 4 3 8
4279 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 × Z/3 6 3 4 6 8
4778 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/18 × Z/6 × Z/3 2 3 4 3 8
4910 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/12 × Z/6 × Z/3 8 3 4 8 8
43063 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/42 × Z/3 × Z/3 × Z/3 4 4 5 4 10
51694 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/24 × Z/3 × Z/3 × Z/3 0 4 5 4 10
53507 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/42 × Z/3 × Z/3 × Z/3 2 4 5 4 10
53678 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/54 × Z/3 × Z/3 × Z/3 2 4 5 4 10
529987 ∅ ∅ ∅ 0 Z/210 × Z/3 × Z/3 × Z/3 2 4 5 4 10

Table 2. Bounds on the φ-Selmer group of Type-I curves

36
 Table 3 contains the bounds on dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) and dimF3 Sel3 (Ea,b /K) of Type
II elliptic curves Ea,b computed using SageMath/Magma. We use the following short-
Ψ Ψ
hand notation in Table 3: r := rk Ea,b (K), sl a,b := h3S1,2 (L) , su a,b := h3S1,3 (L) + |S1,3 (L)| + 2,
Ψ Ψ
s3l := max {r, sl a,b } and s3u := h3S1,2 (L) + h3S1,3 (L) + |S1,2 (L)| + |S1,3 (L)| + 4. Note that sl a,b ≤
Ψ
dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K) ≤ su a,b and s3l ≤ dimF3 Sel3 (Ea,b /K) ≤ s3u by Theorem 4.14 and Corol-
lary 4.16. Further, when 3 ∤ a, we use Corollary 4.17 to give bounds on dimF3 SelΨa,b (Ea,b /K)
and also compute the bounds on dimF3 Sel3 (Ea,b /K) accordingly. If the rank r of Ea,b (K)
can not be computed precisely by SageMath/Magma, then [·, ·] will denote the bounds on
r given by the software.

37
 h3S h3S Ψa,b Ψ
a, b S1 S2 S3 1,2 (L) 1,3 (L)
r sl su a,b s3l s3u

79, 131 ∅ {131OK } ∅ 2 2 0 2 4 2 10

137, 127 {2OK } ∅ {41OK } 1 1 [0, 1] 1 5 2 10
137, 137 {2OK } ∅ ∅ 1 1 1 1 4 2 9
137, 143 {2OK } {11OK } {4409OK } 1 1 1 1 6 1 13
142, 83 ∅ {83OK } {53OK } 2 2 3 2 5 2 11
142, 194 ∅ ∅ {2903OK } 2 2 0 2 4 2 8
1714, 20 ∅ {5OK } ∅ 3 3 2 3 5 3 12
2230, 48 ∅ ∅ {1277OK } 3 3 1 3 5 3 10
2230, 533 ∅ {41OK } ∅ 3 3 2 3 5 3 12
2263, 587 ∅ {587OK } ∅ 3 3 2 3 5 3 12
2659, 29 ∅ {29OK } ∅ 3 3 2 3 5 3 12
2659, 98 ∅ ∅ {29OK } 3 3 2 3 5 3 10
3023, 273 ∅ ∅ {19463OK } 3 3 2 3 5 3 10
3023, 678 ∅ {113OK } ∅ 3 3 0 3 5 3 12
79, 79 ∅ ∅ ∅ 2 2 1 2 3 2 7
79, 171 ∅ ∅ ∅ 2 2 0 2 3 2 7
79, 193 ∅ ∅ ∅ 2 2 0 2 3 2 7
142, 12 ∅ ∅ ∅ 2 2 0 2 3 2 7
142, 67 ∅ ∅ ∅ 2 2 1 2 3 2 7
223, 3 ∅ ∅ ∅ 2 2 0 2 3 2 7
223, 63 ∅ ∅ ∅ 2 2 0 2 3 2 7
1714, 3 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
2263, 72 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 2 3 4 3 9
2659, 24 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
2659, 39 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
3023, 18 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 [0, 1] 3 4 3 9
3391, 12 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
3391, 67 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
3667, 3 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
3667, 63 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
3667, 127 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 [0, 1] 3 4 3 9
4094, 23 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
4094, 74 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 [0, 1] 3 4 3 9
4094, 89 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 [0, 1] 3 4 3 9
4151, 14 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
4151, 206 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
4279, 39 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 [0, 1] 3 4 3 9
4279, 66 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
4279, 111 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
4778, 48 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
4778, 146 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
4910, 14 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
4910, 38 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
4910, 62 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 0 3 4 3 9
4910, 75 ∅ ∅ ∅ 3 3 [0, 1] 3 4 3 9
43063, 7 ∅ ∅ ∅ 4 4 0 3 4 3 9
43063, 96 ∅ ∅ ∅ 4 4 0 4 5 4 11
43063, 117 ∅ ∅ ∅ 4 4 0 4 5 4 11
51694, 13 ∅ ∅ ∅ 4 4 [0, 1] 4 5 4 11
51694, 21 ∅ ∅ ∅ 4 4 0 4 5 4 11
51694, 151 ∅ ∅ ∅ 4 4 [0, 1] 4 5 4 11
53507, 18 ∅ ∅ ∅ 4 4 [0, 1] 4 5 4 11
53507, 74 ∅ ∅ ∅ 4 4 0 4 5 4 11
53507, 158 ∅ ∅ ∅ 4 4 0 4 5 4 11
529987, 32 ∅ ∅ ∅ 4 4 0 4 5 4 11
529987, 108 ∅ ∅ ∅ 4 4 0 4 5 4 11

Table 3. Bounds on the Ψa,b and 3-Selmer groups of Type-II curves

38
 References
[Ba] Andrea Bandini, 3-Selmer groups for curves y 2 = x3 +a, Czechoslovak Math. J. 58(2), (2008),
429-445.
[BES] M. Bhargava, N. Elkies and A. Shnidman, The average size of the 3-isogeny Selmer groups
of elliptic curves y 2 = x3 + k, J. London Math. Soc. 101(1), (2020), 299-327.
[BG] Yuri Bilu and Jean Gillibert, Chevalley-Weil theorem and subgroups of class groups, Israel
J. Math., 226(2), (2018), 927-956.
[BKOS] M. Bhargava, Z. Klagsbrun, R. J. L. Oliver and A. Shnidman, Elements of given order in
Tate–Shafarevich groups of abelian varieties in quadratic twist families, Algebra and Number
Theory 15(3), (2021), 627-655.
[Ca1] J. W. S. Cassels, Arithmetic on curves of genus 1. VI. The Tate-Šafarevič group can be
arbitrarily large, J. Reine Angw. Math. 214/215 (1964), 65-70.
[Ca2] J. W. S. Cassels, Arithmetic on curves of genus 1. VIII. On conjectures of Birch and
Swinnerton-Dyer, J. Reine Angw. Math. 217 (1965), 180-199.
[Ca3] J. W. S. Cassels, Lectures on elliptic curves, London Math. Soc. Student Texts 24, Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge (1991).
[Če] Kestutis Česnavičius, The p-Parity Conjecture for Elliptic Curves with a p-isogeny, J. Reine
Angw. Math. (Crelles Journal), 719, (2016), 45-73.
[CST] L. Cai, J. Shu, Y. Tian, Cube sum problem and an explicit Gross-Zagier formula, Amer. J.
Math. 139(3), (2017), 785-816.
[DV] Samit Dasgupta and John Voight, Heegner points and Sylvester’s conjecture, Arithmetic
geometry, Clay Math. Proc., Amer. Math. Soc., Providence 8 (2009), 91–102.
[Gr] Georges Gras, Class Field Theory: From Theory to Practice, Springer Monograph in Math.,
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH (2003).
[He] Gustav Hergoltz, Über einen Dirichletschen Satz, Math. Zeitschrift, 12, (1922), 255—261.
[KL] Yukako Kezuka and Yongxiong Li, A classical family of elliptic curves having rank one and
the 2-primary part of their Tate–Shafarevich group non-trivial, Documenta Math. 25, (2020),
2115-2147.
[Kr] Kenneth Kramer, Arithmetic of elliptic curves upon quadratic extension, Trans. Amer. Math.
Soc. 264, (1981), 121-135.
[KS] Remke Kloosterman and Edward F. Schaefer, Selmer groups of elliptic curves that can be
arbitrarily large, J. Number Theory 99 (2003), 148-163.
[Le] Franz Lemmermeyer, Reciprocity Laws: from Euler to Eisenstein, Springer Monograph in
Math., Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH (2000).
[Li] Chao Li, 2-Selmer groups, 2-class groups and rational points on elliptic curves, Trans. Amer.
Math. Soc. 371 (2019), 4631-4653.
[MR] B. Mazur and K. Rubin, Ranks of twists of elliptic curves and Hilbert’s tenth problem,
Inventiones Math. 181 (2010), 541–575.
[MS] Dipramit Majumdar and B. Sury, Cyclic cubic extensions of Q, International J. Number
Theory, to appear.
[Ne] Jan Nekovář, Class numbers of quadratic fields and Shimura’s correspondence, Mathematis-
che Annalen 287 (1990), 577–594.
[OP] Ken Ono and Matthew A. Papanikolas, Quadratic twists of modular forms and elliptic curves,
Number Theory for the Millennium III (Urbana, IL, 2000), A. K. Peters (2002), 73-85.
[RZ] Fernando Rodriguez-Villegas and Don Zagier, Which primes are sums of two cubes? Number
Theory (Halifax, NS, 1994), CMS Conf. Proc., Amer. Math. Soc., Providence 15, (1995),
295–306.
[Sc] Edward F. Schaefer, Class groups and Selmer groups, J. Number Theory 56(1), (1996),
79-114.
[Sz] Arnold Scholz, Über die Beziehung der Klassenzahlen quadratischer Körper zueinander, J.
Reine Angw. Math. 166, (1932), 201-203.
[Sl] Ernst Selmer, The rational solutions of the diophantine equation η 2 = ξ 3 − D for |D| ≤ 100,
Math. Scand., 4, (1956), 281-286.
[Sl2] Ernst Selmer, The diophantine equation ax3 +by 3 +cz 3 = 0, Acta Math., 85, (1951), 203-362.
[Se] J.-P. Serre, Local Fields, Graduate Texts in Math. 67, Springer-Verlag, New York (1979).

39
[S1] Joseph H. Silverman, The arithmetic of elliptic curves, Graduate Texts in Math. 106,
Springer-Verlag, New York (1986).
[S2] Joseph H. Silverman, Advanced topics in the arithmetic of elliptic curves, Graduate Texts in
Math. 151, Springer-Verlag, New York (1994).
[SPT] D. B. Salazar, A. Pacetti and G. Tornarı́a, On 2-Selmer groups and quadratic twists of elliptic
curves, Math. Research Letters, to appear.
[SS] Edward F. Schaefer and Michael Stoll, How to do a p-descent on an elliptic curve, Trans.
Amer. Math. Soc. 356(3), (2003), 1209–1231.
[Syl] J. J. Sylvester, On certain ternary cubic-form equations, Amer. J. Math. 2(4), (1879),
357–393.
[SY] J. Shu, H. Yin, Cube sums of the forms 3p and 3p2 II., Math. Ann., (2022), 1-24.
[To] Jaap Top, Descent by 3-isogeny and 3-rank of quadratic fields, Advances in Number Theory,
Proc. of Conf. in Kingston (1991).
[Vé] Jacques Vélu, Isogénies entre courbes elliptiques, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris 273 (1971), 238-241.
[Wa] Lawrence C. Washington, Introduction to cyclotomic fields, Graduate Texts in Math. 83
Springer-Verlag, New York (2012).

Somnath Jha, jhasom@iitk.ac.in, IIT Kanpur, India

Dipramit Majumdar, dipramit@iitm.ac.in, IIT Madras, India

Pratiksha Shingavekar, pshingavekar@gmail.com, IIT Madras, India

40