Abstract

. We describe some algorithms for computing the cardinality of hyperelliptic curves and their Jacobians over finite fields. They include several methods for obtaining the result modulo small primes and prime powers, in particular an algorithm `a la Schoof for genus 2 using Cantor 's division polynomials. These are combined with a birthday paradox algorithm to calculate the cardinality. Our methods are practical and we give actual results computed using our current implementation. The Jacobian groups we handle are larger than those previously reported in the literature. Introduction In recent years there has been a surge of interest in algorithmic aspects of curves. When presented with any curve, a natural task is to compute the number of points on it with coordinates in some finite field. When the finite field is large this is generally difficult to do. Ren'e Schoof gave a polynomial time algorithm for counting points on elliptic curves i.e., those of genus 1, in his ground-...

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