Point compression for the trace zero subgroup over a small degree extension field

Using Semaev's summation polynomials, we derive a new equation for the $\mathbb{F}_q$-rational points of the trace zero variety of an elliptic curve defined over $\mathbb{F}_q$. Using this equation, we produce an optimal-size representation for such points. Our representation is compatible with scalar multiplication. We give a point compression algorithm to compute the representation and a decompression algorithm to recover the original point (up to some small ambiguity). The algorithms are efficient for trace zero varieties coming from small degree extension fields. We give explicit equations and discuss in detail the practically relevant cases of cubic and quintic field extensions.Comment: 23 pages, to appear in Designs, Codes and Cryptograph

Families of fast elliptic curves from Q-curves

We construct new families of elliptic curves over \FF_{p^2} with efficiently computable endomorphisms, which can be used to accelerate elliptic curve-based cryptosystems in the same way as Gallant-Lambert-Vanstone (GLV) and Galbraith-Lin-Scott (GLS) endomorphisms. Our construction is based on reducing \QQ-curves-curves over quadratic number fields without complex multiplication, but with isogenies to their Galois conjugates-modulo inert primes. As a first application of the general theory we construct, for every $p > 3$, two one-parameter families of elliptic curves over \FF_{p^2} equipped with endomorphisms that are faster than doubling. Like GLS (which appears as a degenerate case of our construction), we offer the advantage over GLV of selecting from a much wider range of curves, and thus finding secure group orders when $p$ is fixed. Unlike GLS, we also offer the possibility of constructing twist-secure curves. Among our examples are prime-order curves equipped with fast endomorphisms, with almost-prime-order twists, over \FF_{p^2} for $p = 2^{127}-1$ and $p = 2^{255}-19$

Quasi-quadratic elliptic curve point counting using rigid cohomology

We present a deterministic algorithm that computes the zeta function of a nonsupersingular elliptic curve E over a finite field with p^n elements in time quasi-quadratic in n. An older algorithm having the same time complexity uses the canonical lift of E, whereas our algorithm uses rigid cohomology combined with a deformation approach. An implementation in small odd characteristic turns out to give very good results.Comment: 14 page