On the analytic rank of the twin prime elliptic curve $y^2=x(x-2)(x-p)$

Abstract

Let $p\ge 7$ and suppose $(p,p-2)$ are twin prime numbers, in [Hatley, 2009], the elliptic curve $E_p:y^2=x(x-2)(x-p)$ was considered in the context of a conjecture by Jason Beers about the Mordell-Weil ranks of $E_p/\mathbb{Q}$. I show that for $p\equiv 3,5\mathrm{mod}8$, the analytic rank of $E_p$ is at least one (Theorem 1.1.2) in line with Beers' predictions. This is done by finding a formula (Theorem 4.1.1) for the global root number of $E_p$ for all twin prime pairs. I also show that Beers' conjecture, that for $p\equiv 1\mathrm{mod}8$ the rank of $E_p$ is two, is false as stated because $E_{73}$ has rank zero. In the light of Theorem 4.1.1, Beers' conjecture needs to be modified: if $p\equiv 1\mathrm{mod}8$ then the rank of $E_p$ is zero or two (Conjecture 5.3.1).

13 pages