Computing torsion subgroups of Jacobians of hyperelliptic curves of genus 3

We introduce an algorithm to compute the structure of the rational torsion subgroup of the Jacobian of a hyperelliptic curve of genus 3 over the rationals. We apply a Magma implementation of our algorithm to a database of curves with low discriminant due to Sutherland as well as a list of curves with small coefficients. In the process, we find several torsion structures not previously described in the literature. The algorithm is a generalisation of an algorithm for genus 2 due to Stoll, which we extend to abelian varieties satisfying certain conditions. The idea is to compute p-adic torsion lifts of points over finite fields using the Kummer variety and to check whether they are rational using heights. Both have been made explicit for Jacobians of hyperelliptic curves of genus 3 by Stoll. This article is partially based on the second-named author’s Master thesis.