arXiv subjects

Ari Shnidman

Publications and source records attributed to Ari Shnidman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Exceptional points on Atkin--Lehner quotients

We study the rational points on the star curve $X_0^*(N) := X_0(N)/W(N)$, the quotient of the classical modular curve $X_0(N)$ by the full group of Atkin--Lehner involutions, for squarefree levels $N$. Rational points on $X_0^*(N)$ parameterize $\mathbb{Q}$-curves, i.e.\ elliptic curves $E/\overline{\mathbb{Q}}$ that are isogenous to all of their Galois conjugates. Elkies conjectures that $X_0^*(N)$ has only CM or cuspidal rational points for all large enough $N$. We call any other rational points "exceptional". In this article, we provide new examples of exceptional points in genus 3 and 4, and we give evidence that no exceptional points exist in genus $g \geq 5$. Moreover, we investigate the underlying geometric reasons that might "explain" why these exceptional points arise in the first place, in the vein of Ogg and Mazur. In particular, we propose geometric explanations for Galbraith's exceptional points on $X_0^*(137)$ and $X_0^*(311)$.

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arXiv2026

Rational torsion on simple genus two Jacobians

We exhibit new subgroups of rational torsion points in geometrically simple Jacobians of genus-two curves over $\mathbb Q$. The largest group, which has order 96 and invariants [2,2,2,12], is realized by curves of the form $y^2 = x(x-a^2)(x-b^2)(x-c^2)(x-u^2)(x-v^2)$ where $a,b,c,u,v$ are positive integers that satisfy $a^2 + b^2 + c^2 = u^2 + v^2$ and $a^4 + b^4 + c^4 = u^4 + v^4$. We also find realizations of the groups [2,2,20], [2,2,4,4], [2,2,2,8], [2,4,8], and [6,6]. Finally, we record, to the best of our knowledge, all known subgroups that arise in genus-two Jacobians over $\mathbb Q$, in the geometrically simple case and in general.

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arXiv2026

Rational points on modular curves: parameterization and geometric explanations

We show that, conditional on Zywina's effective version of the Serre uniformity conjecture, there is a natural way to parameterize non-CM $\mathbb{Q}$-rational points on all modular curves in terms of the rational points on finitely many modular curves. Our proof refines Zywina's work to give a (conditional) parameterization of the images of adelic Galois representations of elliptic curves. In particular, we show that there are 41 $j$-invariants of elliptic curves whose associated Galois image does not vary in an infinite family. Using our explicit parameterization, we show that all rational points on all modular curves arise from the geometry of modular curves in a formal sense, confirming a philosophy of Mazur and Ogg.

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arXiv2025

Hecke reciprocity and class groups

We compute the average size of $\mathrm{Cl}_F[2]$ in the family of cubic fields $F = \mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[3]{n})$. Specifically, as $F$ varies over the subfamily of wildly (resp. tamely) ramified fields $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[3]{n})$, the average size of $\mathrm{Cl}_F[2]$ is $3/2$ (resp. $2$). This tame/wild dichotomy is not accounted for by the class group heuristics in the literature. Analogously, when the extensions $F = K(\sqrt[3]{n})$ of $K = \mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-3})$ are ordered by the norm of $n \in \mathcal{O}_K$, we show that the average size of $\mathrm{Cl}_F[2]$ is $3/2$, as is predicted by the Cohen--Martinet heuristics for $C_3$-extensions of $K$. Underlying our proofs is a reciprocity law for the relative class groups $\mathrm{Cl}_{F/K}[2]$ of odd degree extensions of number fields $F/K$. This leads us to propose class group heuristics for families of $K$-extensions with a fixed Galois $K$-group that explains the aberrant behavior in the family $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[3]{n})$ and predicts similar behavior in other special families. The other main ingredient is the work of Alp\"oge--Bhargava--Shnidman on the number of integral $G(\mathbb{Q})$-orbits in a $G$-invariant quadric with bounded invariants.

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arXiv2025

Rank stability in quadratic extensions and Hilbert's tenth problem for the ring of integers of a number field

We show that for any quadratic extension of number fields $K/F$, there exists an abelian variety $A/F$ of positive rank whose rank does not grow upon base change to $K$. This result implies that Hilbert's tenth problem over the ring of integers of any number field has a negative solution. That is, for the ring $\mathcal{O}_K$ of integers of any number field $K$, there does not exist an algorithm that answers the question of whether a polynomial equation in several variables over $\mathcal{O}_K$ has solutions in $\mathcal{O}_K$.

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arXiv2024

Derivatives of Rankin-Selberg $L$-functions and heights of generalized Heegner cycles

Let $f$ be a newform of weight $2k$ and let $\chi$ be an unramified imaginary quadratic Hecke character of infinity type $(2t, 0)$, for some integer $0 < t \leq k-1$. We show that the central derivative of the Rankin-Selberg $L$-function $L(f,\chi,s)$ is, up to an explicit positive constant, equal to the Beilinson-Bloch height of a generalized Heegner cycle. This generalizes the Gross-Zagier formula (the case $k = 1$) and Zhang's higher weight formula (the case $t=0$).

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arXiv2024

Vanishing criteria for Ceresa cycles

Let $C$ be a smooth projective curve, and let $J$ be its Jacobian. We prove vanishing criteria for the Ceresa cycle $\kappa(C) \in \mathrm{CH}_1(J)\otimes \mathbb{Q}$ in the Chow group of 1-cycles on $J$. Namely, $(A)$ If $\mathrm{H}_{\mathrm{prim}}^3(J)^{\mathrm{Aut}(C)} = 0$, then $\kappa(C)$ vanishes; $(B)$ If $\mathrm{H}^0(J, \Omega_J^3)^{\mathrm{Aut}(C)} = 0$ and the Hodge conjecture holds, then $\kappa(C)$ vanishes modulo algebraic equivalence. We then study the first interesting case where $(B)$ holds but $(A)$ does not, namely the case of Picard curves $C \colon y^3 = x^4 + ax^2 + bx + c$. Using work of Schoen on the Hodge conjecture, we show that the Ceresa cycle of a Picard curve is torsion in the Griffiths group. Moreover, we determine exactly when it is torsion in the Chow group. As a byproduct, we show that there are infinitely many plane quartic curves over $\mathbb{Q}$ with torsion Ceresa cycle (in fact, there is a one parameter family of such curves). Finally, we determine which automorphism group strata are contained in the vanishing locus of the universal Ceresa cycle over $\mathcal{M}_3$.

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arXiv2023

Ceresa cycles of bielliptic Picard curves

We show that the Ceresa cycle $\kappa(C_t)$ of the genus $3$ curve $C_t \colon y^3 = x^4 + 2tx^2 + 1$ is torsion if and only if $Q_t=( \sqrt[3]{t^2 -1},t)$ is a torsion point on the elliptic curve $y^2 = x^3 + 1$. This shows that there are infinitely many smooth plane quartic curves over $\mathbb{C}$ (resp. $\mathbb{Q}$) with torsion (resp. infinite order) Ceresa cycle. Over $\overline{\mathbb{Q}}$, we show that the Beilinson--Bloch height of $\kappa(C_t)$ is proportional to the Neron--Tate height of $Q_t$. Thus, the height of $\kappa(C_t)$ is nondegenerate and satisfies a Northcott property. To prove all this, we show that the Chow motive that controls $\kappa(C_t)$ is isomorphic to $\mathfrak{h}^1$ of an appropriate elliptic curve.

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arXiv2023

The geometry and arithmetic of bielliptic Picard curves

We study the geometry and arithmetic of the curves $C \colon y^3 = x^4 + ax^2 + b$ and their associated Prym abelian surfaces $P$. We prove a Torelli theorem in this context and give a geometric proof of the fact that $P$ has quaternionic multiplication (QM) by the quaternion order of discriminant $6$. This allows us to describe the Galois action on the geometric endomorphism algebra of $P$. As an application, we classify the torsion subgroups of the Mordell-Weil groups $P(\mathbb{Q})$, as both abelian groups and $\text{End}(P)$-modules.

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arXiv2023

Rational torsion points on abelian surfaces with quaternionic multiplication

Let $A$ be an abelian surface over $\mathbb{Q}$ whose geometric endomorphism ring is a maximal order in a non-split quaternion algebra. Inspired by Mazur's theorem for elliptic curves, we show that the torsion subgroup of $A(\mathbb{Q})$ is $12$-torsion and has order at most $18$. Under the additional assumption that $A$ is of $\mathrm{GL}_2$-type, we give a complete classification of the possible torsion subgroups of $A(\mathbb{Q})$.

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arXiv2023

Normal distribution of bad reduction

We prove normal distribution laws for primes of bad semistable reduction in families of curves. As a consequence, we deduce that when ordered by height, $100\%$ of curves in these families have, in a precise sense, many such primes.

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arXiv2023

Genus two curves with full $\sqrt{3}$-level structure and Tate-Shafarevich groups

We give an explicit rational parameterization of the surface $\mathcal{H}_3$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ whose points parameterize genus 2 curves~$C$ with full $\sqrt{3}$-level structure on their Jacobian $J$. We use this model to construct abelian surfaces $A$ with the property that $\mathrm{Sha}(A_d)[3] \neq 0$ for a positive proportion of quadratic twists $A_d$. In fact, for $100\%$ of $x \in \mathcal{H}_3(\mathbb{Q})$, this holds for the surface $A = \mathrm{Jac}(C_x)/\langle P \rangle$, where $P$ is the marked point of order $3$. Our methods also give an explicit bound on the average rank of $J_d(\mathbb{Q})$, as well as statistical results on the size of $\#C_d(\mathbb{Q})$, as $d$ varies through squarefree integers.

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arXiv2023

Rank growth of elliptic curves over $N$-th root extensions

Fix an elliptic curve $E$ over a number field $F$ and an integer $n$ which is a power of $3$. We study the growth of the Mordell--Weil rank of $E$ after base change to the fields $K_d = F(\sqrt[2n]{d})$. If $E$ admits a $3$-isogeny, then we show that the average ``new rank'' of $E$ over $K_d$, appropriately defined, is bounded as the height of $d$ goes to infinity. When $n = 3$, we moreover show that for many elliptic curves $E/\mathbb{Q}$, there are no new points on $E$ over $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[6]d)$, for a positive proportion of integers $d$. This is a horizontal analogue of a well-known result of Cornut and Vatsal. As a corollary, we show that Hilbert's tenth problem has a negative solution over a positive proportion of pure sextic fields $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[6]{d})$. The proofs combine our recent work on ranks of abelian varieties in cyclotomic twist families with a technique we call the ``correlation trick'', which applies in a more general context where one is trying to show simultaneous vanishing of multiple Selmer groups. We also apply this technique to families of twists of Prym surfaces, which leads to bounds on the number of rational points in sextic twist families of bielliptic genus 3 curves.

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arXiv2022

Integers expressible as the sum of two rational cubes

We prove that a positive proportion of integers are expressible as the sum of two rational cubes, and a positive proportion are not so expressible, thus proving a conjecture of Davenport. More generally, we prove that a positive proportion (in fact, at least one sixth) of elliptic curves in any cubic twist family have rank 0, and a positive proportion (in fact, at least one sixth) of elliptic curves with good reduction at 2 in any cubic twist family have rank 1. Our method involves proving that the average size of the 2-Selmer group of elliptic curves in any cubic twist family, having any given root number, is 3. We accomplish this by generalizing a parametrization, due to the second author and Ho, of elliptic curves with extra structure by pairs of binary cubic forms. We then use a novel combination of geometry-of-numbers methods and the circle method that builds on earlier work of Ruth and the first author. In particular, we make use of a new interpretation of the singular integral and series arising in the circle method in terms of real and $p$-adic Haar measures on the relevant group. We prove a uniformity estimate for integral points on the relevant quadric, which along with a sieve allows us to prove that the average size of the 2-Selmer group over the cubic twist family is 3. By suitably partitioning the subset of curves in the family with given root number, we effect a further sieve to show that the root number is equidistributed and that the same average, now taken over only those curves of given root number, is again 3. Finally, we apply the $p$-parity theorem of Dokchitser-Dokchitser and a $p$-converse theorem of Burungale-Skinner to conclude. We also prove the analogue of the above results for the sequence of square numbers: namely, we prove that a positive proportion of square integers are expressible as the sum of two rational cubes, and a positive proportion are not.

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arXiv2022

Elements of prime order in Tate-Shafarevich groups of abelian varieties over $\mathbb{Q}$

For each prime $p$, we show that there exist geometrically simple abelian varieties $A/\mathbb Q$ with non-trivial $p$-torsion in their Tate-Shafarevich groups. Specifically, for any prime $N\equiv 1 \pmod{p}$, let $A_f$ be an optimal quotient of $J_0(N)$ with a rational point $P$ of order $p$, and let $B = A_f/\langle P \rangle$. Then the number of positive integers $d \leq X$, such that the Tate-Shafarevich group of $\hat B_d$ has non-trivial $p$-torsion, is $\gg X/\log X$, where $\hat B_d$ is the dual of the $d$-th quadratic twist of $B$. We prove this more generally for abelian varieties of $\mathrm{GL}_2$-type with a $p$-isogeny satisfying a mild technical condition. In the special case of elliptic curves, we give stronger results, including many examples where $\mathrm{Sha}(E_d)[p] \neq 0$ for an explicit positive proportion of integers $d$.

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arXiv2022

Arbitrarily large $p$-torsion in Tate-Shafarevich groups

We show that, for any prime $p$, there exist absolutely simple abelian varieties over $\mathbb{Q}$ with arbitrarily large $p$-torsion in their Tate-Shafarevich group. To prove this, we construct explicit $\mu_p$-covers of Jacobians of the form $y^p = x(x-1)(x-a)$ which violate the Hasse principle. In the appendix, Tom Fisher explains how to interpret our proof in terms of a Cassels-Tate pairing.

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arXiv2022

Experiments with Ceresa classes of cyclic Fermat quotients

We give two new examples of non-hyperelliptic curves whose Ceresa cycles have torsion images in the intermediate Jacobian. For one of them, the central value of the $L$-function of the relevant motive is non-vanishing and the Ceresa cycle is torsion in the Griffiths group, consistent with the conjectures of Beilinson and Bloch. We speculate on a possible explanation for the existence of these torsion Ceresa classes, based on some computations with cyclic Fermat quotients.

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arXiv2022

Manin-Drinfeld cycles and derivatives of $L$-functions

We study algebraic cycles in the moduli space of $\mathrm{PGL}_2$-shtukas, arising from the diagonal torus. Our main result shows that their intersection pairing with the Heegner-Drinfeld cycle is the product of the $r$-th central derivative of an automorphic $L$-function $L(π,s)$ and Waldspurger's toric period integral. When $L(π,\frac12) \neq 0$, this gives a new geometric interpretation for the Taylor series expansion. When $L(π,\frac12) = 0$, the pairing vanishes, suggesting higher order analogues of the vanishing of cusps in the modular Jacobian, as well as other new phenomena. Our proof sheds new light on the algebraic correspondence introduced by Yun and Zhang, which is the geometric incarnation of ``differentiating the $L$-function". We realize it as the Lie algebra action of $e+f \in \mathfrak{sl}_2$ on $(\mathbb{Q}_\ell^2)^{\otimes 2d}$. The comparison of relative trace formulas needed to prove our formula is then a consequence of Schur-Weyl duality.

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