Mazur's conjecture on the topology of positive-rank fibers

Let EPQ1{\mathcal E} \to {\mathbb P}^1_{\mathbb Q} be an elliptic surface with base PQ1{\mathbb P}^1_{\mathbb Q}. For tP1(Q)t \in {\mathbb P}^1(\mathbb Q), consider the fiber Et{\mathcal E}_t when it is an elliptic curve, and its Mordell–Weil rank.

Mazur's conjecture. One of the following two conditions holds:

  1. For all but finitely many tP1(Q)t \in {\mathbb P}^1(\mathbb Q), the fiber Et{\mathcal E}_t is an elliptic curve with Mordell–Weil rank equal to zero.
  2. The set of tP1(Q)t \in {\mathbb P}^1(\mathbb Q) such that Et{\mathcal E}_t is an elliptic curve with positive Mordell–Weil rank is dense in P1(R){\mathbb P}^1(\mathbb R).

This is one of Mazur's conjectures on the topology of rational points on varieties. The source gives no resolution status, so the conjecture is recorded as open.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Anthony Várilly-Alvarado, “Density of rational points on isotrivial rational elliptic surfaces”, arXiv:0911.3881 (2011).

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