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Counting points on elliptic curves over finite fields. (English) Zbl 0852.11073
The author reports on algorithms for counting the number of points on an elliptic curve over a finite field. The first one works well when the finite field is not too large and is based on Shank’s baby-step-giant-step strategy [D. Shanks, 1969 Number Theory Institute, Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 20, 415-440 (1971; Zbl 0223.12006)]. Then he discusses an improvement due to Mestre which avoids some group theoretical problems in this algorithm; this has been implemented in the computer algebra package PARI [H. Cohen, A course in computational number theory, Grad. Texts Math. 138 (1993; Zbl 0786.11071), Alg. 7.4.12; C. Batut, D. Bernardini, H. Cohen and M. Olivier, User’s guide to PARI-GP, version 1.30, Bordeaux (1990)]. The second algorithm is efficient when the endomorphism ring of the elliptic curve is known, and it is based on a reduction algorithm for lattices in $$\mathbb{R}^2$$. A related algorithm due to Cornacchia and Lenstra’s proof of its correctness are also discussed. Finally the last algorithm is a deterministic one which runs in polynomial time and is based on calculations with torsion points. Practical improvements due to Atkin and Elkies are also presented. The latter methods can be extended to large finite fields of small characteristics, and its origin comes from cryptography [A. J. Menezes, S. A. Vanstone and R. J. Zuccherato, Math. Comput. 60, 407-420 (1993; Zbl 0809.14045)].

##### MSC:
 11Y16 Number-theoretic algorithms; complexity 11G20 Curves over finite and local fields 14Q05 Computational aspects of algebraic curves 14H52 Elliptic curves
##### Citations:
Zbl 0223.12006; Zbl 0786.11071; Zbl 0809.14045
PARI/GP; ECPP
Full Text:
##### References:
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