In mathematics, particularly in algebraic geometry, an isogeny is a morphism of algebraic groups (also known as group varieties) that is surjective and has a finite kernel.

If the groups are abelian varieties, then any morphism f : A → B of the underlying algebraic varieties which is surjective with finite fibres is automatically an isogeny, provided that f(1_A) = 1_B. Such an isogeny f then provides a group homomorphism between the groups of k-valued points of A and B, for any field k over which f is defined.

The terms "isogeny" and "isogenous" come from the Greek word ισογενη-ς, meaning "equal in kind or nature". The term "isogeny" was introduced by Weil; before this, the term "isomorphism" was somewhat confusingly used for what is now called an isogeny.

Case of abelian varieties

For abelian varieties, such as elliptic curves, this notion can also be formulated as follows:

Let E₁ and E₂ be abelian varieties of the same dimension over a field k. An isogeny between E₁ and E₂ is a dense morphism f : E₁ → E₂ of varieties that preserves basepoints (i.e. f maps the identity point on E₁ to that on E₂).

This is equivalent to the above notion, as every dense morphism between two abelian varieties of the same dimension is automatically surjective with finite fibres, and if it preserves identities then it is a homomorphism of groups.

Two abelian varieties E₁ and E₂ are called isogenous if there is an isogeny E₁ → E₂. This can be shown to be an equivalence relation; in the case of elliptic curves, symmetry is due to the existence of the dual isogeny. As above, every isogeny induces homomorphisms of the groups of the k-valued points of the abelian varieties.