Moduli for rational genus 2 curves with real multiplication for discriminant 5

Abstract

Principally polarized abelian surfaces with prescribed real multiplication (RM) are parametrized by certain Hilbert modular surfaces. Thus rational genus 2 curves correspond to rational points on the Hilbert modular surfaces via their Jacobians, but the converse is not true. We give a simple generic description of which rational moduli points correspond to rational curves, as well as give associated Weierstrass models, in the case of RM by the ring of integers of $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{5})$. To prove this, we provide some techniques for reducing quadratic forms over polynomial rings.