Some Improvements to 4-Descent on an Elliptic Curve

The theory of 4-descent on elliptic curves has been developed in the PhD theses of Siksek [18], Womack [21] and Stamminger [20]. Prompted by our use of 4-descent in the search for generators of large height on elliptic curves of rank at least 2, we explain how to cut down the number of class group and unit group calculations required, by using the group law on the 4-Selmer group.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: ANTS
• Authors: Tom Fisher
• Keywords: Algorithms, ANTS 2008, Elliptic Curves, PhD Theses, Unit Group Calculations