Formal group of an elliptic curve

The local parameter $z=-x/y$ at the identity of a Weierstrass curve expresses addition as a formal group law. Over a local field it describes points reducing to the identity.

For a Weierstrass equation of an elliptic curve, use the local parameter $t=-x/y$ and put $w=-1/y$. The formal kernel of a minimal Weierstrass equation construction gives $w=t^3+a_1{t}^4+(a_1^2+a_2)t^5+(a_1^3+2a_1{a}_2+a_3)t^6+O(t^7)$. Substitution into the elliptic curve group law yields the displayed initial coefficients and the formal inverse $-t/(1-a_{1}t-a_{3}w(t))$. In characteristic zero, the invariant differential on an elliptic curve becomes $(1+a_{1}t+(a_1^2+a_2)t^2+O(t^3))dt$, giving the formal logarithm $t+a_1{t}^2/2+(a_1^2+a_2)t^3/3+O(t^4)$. The addition coefficients are integral polynomial expressions and hence also apply in positive characteristic of a field.

For an elliptic curve over a local field with integral Minimal Weierstrass equation, let $E_0(K)$ consist of points with nonsingular reduction and let $E_1(K)$ be the kernel of $E_0(K)\to {\tilde{E}}_{\mathrm{ns}}(k)$. This definition also applies at a prime of bad reduction of an elliptic curve. The point at infinity is always smooth. With $t=-x/y$ and $w=-1/y$, the Weierstrass equation of an elliptic curve becomesThe unit linear coefficient in $w$ gives a unique integral formal power series $w(t)=t^3+O(t^4)$. Then $x=t/w$ and $y=-1/w$, so the nonidentity points of $E_1(K)$ have $v(x)=-2r$ and $v(y)=-3r$ for $r=v(t)>0$. The local parameter $t$ bijects $E_1(K)$ with ${\mathfrak{m}}_K$ and turns its addition into the formal group of an elliptic curve. At good reduction this agrees with the kernel of reduction of an elliptic curve.

A nonidentity rational point in the formal kernel of a minimal Weierstrass equation at two distinct primes has infinite order of a group element. Indeed, the prime-to-residue-characteristic multiplication on a formal group implies that a finite order in the kernel at $p$ must be a power of $p$. Membership in the kernel at a different prime $q$ also forces a power of $q$. The only common possibility is order one, contradicting nonidentity. For an integral model, negative valuations of the affine coordinates provide a convenient kernel-membership test.

For an integral short equation $y^2=x^3+ax+b$, negation acts on $t=-x/y$ by $t\mapsto -t$. Thus the integral formal multiplication series is odd: $[2](t)=2t+t^{3}g(t)$. If $v_2(t)=s\ge 1$, the leading term has valuation $s+1<3s$, so successive doubling never kills a nonzero point. Odd multiplication has unit linear coefficient. Combined with the formal logarithm at odd primes, this proves torsion-freeness of the formal identity neighbourhood at every prime for a short equation. The short-model hypothesis matters at two.

For $y^2=x^3+ax+b$, put $t=-x/y$ and $w=-1/y$. Then $x=t/w$, $y=-1/w$, and the curve equation becomesThere is a unique solution $w(t)\in t^{3}K[[t]]$, and points in the kernel of reduction correspond to parameters of positive valuation.

An isogeny $\varphi :E\to E^{\prime }$ sends the identity to the identity, so substituting the formal coordinates into $t^{\prime }=-x^{\prime }/y^{\prime }$ gives a series $f(t)\in tK[[t]]$. Compatibility with the elliptic-curve group laws givesmaking $f$ a morphism of formal group laws.

For an elliptic curve over a nonarchimedean local field, $E_0$ consists of points with nonsingular reduction, $E_1$ is the kernel of reduction, and $E_r$ for $r\ge 1$ consists of points whose formal parameter has valuation at least $r$. The successive quotients for $r\ge 1$ are copies of the additive residue-field group.