Local Points on Quadratic Twists of X_0(N)

Abstract

Let X^d(N) be the quadratic twist of the modular curve X_0(N) through the Atkin-Lehner involution w_N and a quadratic extension Q(\sqrt{d})/Q. The points of X^d(N)(Q) are precisely the Q(\sqrt{d})-rational points of X_0(N) that are fixed by \sigma composition w_N, where \sigma is the generator of Gal(Q(\sqrt{d})/Q).Ellenberg asked the following question: For which d and N does X^d(N) have rational points over every completion of Q? Given (N,d,p) we give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a Q_p-rational point on X^d(N), whenever p is not simultaneously ramified in Q(\sqrt{d}) and Q(\sqrt{-N}), answering Ellenberg's question for all odd primes p when (N,d)=1. The main theorem yields a population of curves which have local points everywhere but no points over Q; in several cases we show that this obstruction to the Hasse Principle is explained by the Brauer-Manin obstruction.