This book is an introduction to the theory of elliptic curves, ranging from its most elementary aspects to current research. The first part, which grew out of Tate's Haverford lectures, covers the elementary arithmetic theory of elliptic curves over the rationals. The next two chapters recast the arguments used in the proof of the Mordell theorem into the context of Galois cohomology and descent theory. This is followed by three chapters on the analytic theory of elliptic curves, including such topics as elliptic functions, theta functions, and modular functions. Next, the theory of endomorphisms and elliptic curves over infinite and local fields are discussed. The book concludes with three chapters surveying recent results in the arithmetic theory, especially those related to the conjecture of the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer. This new edition contains three new chapters and the addition of two appendices by Stefan Theisen and Otto Forster. Dale Husemöller is a member of the faculty at the Max Planck Institute of Mathematics.

There are three new appendices, one by Stefan Theisen on the role of Calabi Yau manifolds in string theory and one by Otto Forster on the use of elliptic curves in computing theory and coding theory. In the third appendix we discuss the role of elliptic curves in homotopy theory. In these three introductions the reader can get a clue to the far-reaching implications of the theory of elliptic curves in mathematical sciences. During the ?nal production of this edition, the ICM 2002 manuscript of Mike Hopkins became available. This report outlines the role of elliptic curves in ho- topy theory. Elliptic curves appear in the form of the Weierstasse equation and its related changes of variable. The equations and the changes of variable are coded in an algebraic structure called a Hopf algebroid, and this Hopf algebroid is related to a cohomology theory called topological modular forms. Hopkins and his coworkers have used this theory in several directions, one being the explanation of elements in stable homotopy up to degree 60. In the third appendix we explain how what we described in Chapter 3 leads to the Weierstrass Hopf algebroid making a link with Hopkins' paper.

From the reviews of the second edition:

"Husemöller's text was and is the great first introduction to the world of elliptic curves and a good guide to the current research literature as well. this second edition builds on the original in several ways. it has certainly gained a good deal of topicality, appeal, power of inspiration, and educational value for a wider public. No doubt, this text will maintain its role as both a useful primer and a passionate invitation to the evergreen theory of elliptic curves and their applications" (Werner Kleinert, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1040, 2004)

Klappentext

This book is an introduction to the theory of elliptic curves, ranging from elementary topics to current research. The first chapters, which grew out of Tate's Haverford Lectures, cover the arithmetic theory of elliptic curves over the field of rational numbers. This theory is then recast into the powerful and more general language of Galois cohomology and descent theory. An analytic section of the book includes such topics as elliptic functions, theta functions, and modular functions. Next, the book discusses the theory of elliptic curves over finite and local fields and provides a survey of results in the global arithmetic theory, especially those related to the conjecture of Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer.

This new edition contains three new chapters. The first is an outline of Wiles's proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. The two additional chapters concern higher-dimensional analogues of elliptic curves, including K3 surfaces and Calabi-Yau manifolds. Two new appendices explore recent applications of elliptic curves and their generalizations. The first, written by Stefan Theisen, examines the role of Calabi-Yau manifolds and elliptic curves in string theory, while the second, by Otto Forster, discusses the use of elliptic curves in computing theory and coding theory.

About the First Edition:

"All in all the book is well written, and can serve as basis for a student seminar on the subject."

-G. Faltings, Zentralblatt

Inhalt
to Rational Points on Plane Curves.- Elementary Properties of the Chord-Tangent Group Law on a Cubic Curve.- Plane Algebraic Curves.- Elliptic Curves and Their Isomorphisms.- Families of Elliptic Curves and Geometric Properties of Torsion Points.- Reduction mod p and Torsion Points.- Proof of Mordell's Finite Generation Theorem.- Galois Cohomology and Isomorphism Classification of Elliptic Curves over Arbitrary Fields.- Descent and Galois Cohomology.- Elliptic and Hypergeometric Functions.- Theta Functions.- Modular Functions.- Endomorphisms of Elliptic Curves.- Elliptic Curves over Finite Fields.- Elliptic Curves over Local Fields.- Elliptic Curves over Global Fields and ?-Adic Representations.- L-Function of an Elliptic Curve and Its Analytic Continuation.- Remarks on the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture.- Remarks on the Modular Elliptic Curves Conjecture and Fermat's Last Theorem.- Higher Dimensional Analogs of Elliptic Curves: Calabi-Yau Varieties.- Families of Elliptic Curves.