Is the ring of integers of any imaginary quadratic field equal to $\mathrm{End}(E)$ for some $E / \Bbb Q$

algebraic-number-theoryarithmetic-geometrycomplex multiplicationelliptic-curves

Let $K / \Bbb Q$ be an imaginary quadratic field, and let $O_K$ be its ring of integers. Is there an elliptic curve $E / \Bbb Q$ such that its ring of integers
$\mathrm{End}_{\overline{ \Bbb{Q}}}(E)$ is isomorphic to $O_K$ ?

This is clearly true over $\Bbb C$ (I think one can take the torus $C / \Bbb O_K$), but it is not clear when it can be defined as an algebraic curve with rational coefficients.

(The analoguous result over finite fields holds: this is Deuring correspondence).

Best Answer

By complex multiplication, the set of $j$-invariants of isomorphism classes of elliptic curves $E/\mathbb{C}$ with $\operatorname{End}(E) = \mathcal{O}_K$ is exactly $$ \{j(\mathfrak{a}) : \mathfrak{a} \in \mathcal{Cl}(\mathcal{O}_K)\}$$ ($\mathcal{Cl}$ denoting the ideal class group). Every element of this set has the same minimal polynomial. That minimal polynomial is the Hilbert class polynomial of $\mathcal{O}_K$, and the degree of the Hilbert class polynomial of $\mathcal{O}_K$ is equal to the ideal class number of $\mathcal{O}_K$. Hence the answer to your question is: There exists $E/\mathbb{Q}$ with $\operatorname{End}(E) = \mathcal{O}_K$ if and only if $\mathcal{O}_K$ has class number $1$.

There is an extensive body of literature on the class number $1$ problem which this post is too small to contain.

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