Fields of definition of elliptic curves with prescribed torsion

Abstract

We prove that all elliptic curves over quadratic fields with a subgroup isomorphic to $C_{16}$, as well as all elliptic curves over cubic fields with a subgroup isomorphic to $C_2\times C_{14}$, are base changes of elliptic curves defined over $\Q$. We obtain these results by studying geometric properties of modular curves and maps between modular curves, and then obtaining a modular description of these curves and maps.