Complex multiplication

An abelian variety of dimension $g$ has complex multiplication when its rational endomorphism ring contains a commutative semisimple $\mathbb{Q}$-algebra of dimension $2g$. For an elliptic curve in characteristic zero, this means its geometric endomorphism ring of an elliptic curve is an order in an imaginary quadratic field. The resulting rank-one Tate module representations connect torsion points to class field theory.

A complex CM period compares an algebraic invariant differential on a CM elliptic curve with its analytic lattice coordinate. At an ordinary prime, a $p$-adic CM period compares the same differential with the invariant differential of the multiplicative formal group: an isomorphism $\eta$ is normalized by ${\log }_{\hat{E}}\eta (T)={\Omega }_p\log (1+T)$. Matched periods make normalized critical Hecke L-function values algebraic and give precise p-adic L-function interpolation.

For a complex CM torus $\mathbb{C}/\mathfrak{a}$ and an idele $s$ of its CM field, the automorphism corresponding to $s$ by Artin reciprocity takes its lattice to $s^{-1}\mathfrak{a}$ and acts on torsion through the adelic scalar $s^{-1}$. When the curve is defined over a larger field, use the idelic norm to the CM field. Comparison with the original curve gives a scalar in the CM field, producing the Hecke character of a CM elliptic curve.

An elliptic curve with complex multiplication is called a CM elliptic curve. Distinguish geometric endomorphisms from endomorphisms defined over the base field. In characteristic zero, adjoining the imaginary quadratic field selected by the tangent action makes all geometric endomorphisms defined over the base. Good split primes have ordinary reduction; good inert primes have supersingular reduction.