Let $K$ be a finite Galois extension of the field of rational numbers with unit rank greater than~3. We prove that the ring of integers of $K$ is a Euclidean domain if and only if it is a principal ideal domain. This was previously known under the assumption of the generalized Riemann hypothesis for Dedekind zeta functions. We now prove this unconditionally.

Generically, one can attach to a $\mathbf{Q}$-curve $C$ octahedral representations $\rho\colon\Gal(\bar{\mathbf{Q}}/\mathbf{Q})\rightarrow\GL_2(\bar\mathbf{F}_3)$ coming from the Galois action on the $3$-torsion of those abelian varieties of $\GL_2$-type whose building block is $C$. When $C$ is defined over a quadratic field and has an isogeny of degree $2$ to its Galois conjugate, there exist such representations $\rho$ having image into $\GL_2(\mathbf{F}_9)$. Going the other way, we can ask which $\mod 3$ octahedral representations $\rho$ of $\Gal(\bar\mathbf{Q}/\mathbf{Q})$ arise from $\mathbf{Q}$-curves in the above sense. We characterize those arising from quadratic $\mathbf{Q}$-curves of degree $2$. The approach makes use of Galois embedding techniques in $\GL_2(\mathbf{F}_9)$, and the characterization can be given in terms of a quartic polynomial defining the $\mathcal{S}_4$-extension of $\mathbf{Q}$ corresponding to the projective representation $\bar{\rho}$.

In this paper, we study the Mordell-Weil group of an elliptic curve as a Galois module. We consider an elliptic curve $E$ defined over a number field $K$ whose Mordell-Weil rank over a Galois extension $F$ is $1$, $2$ or $3$. We show that $E$ acquires a point (points) of infinite order over a field whose Galois group is one of $C_n \times C_m$ ($n= 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, m= 1, 2$), $D_n \times C_m$ ($n= 2, 3, 4, 6, m= 1, 2$), $A_4 \times C_m$ ($m=1,2$), $S_4 \times C_m$ ($m=1,2$). Next, we consider the case where $E$ has complex multiplication by the ring of integers $\o$ of an imaginary quadratic field $\k$ contained in $K$. Suppose that the $\o$-rank over a Galois extension $F$ is $1$ or $2$. If $\k\neq\Q(\sqrt{-1})$ and $\Q(\sqrt{-3})$ and $h_{\k}$ (class number of $\k$) is odd, we show that $E$ acquires positive $\o$-rank over a cyclic extension of $K$ or over a field whose Galois group is one of $\SL_2(\Z/3\Z)$, an extension of $\SL_2(\Z/3\Z)$ by $\Z/2\Z$, or a central extension by the dihedral group. Finally, we discuss the relation of the above results to the vanishing of $L$-functions.