Jorgensens's inequality for discrete groups in normed algebras (Q1261120)

Let \(\mathcal A\) be a normed algebra with identity 1 and the norm \(|\cdot |\). Set \(B(a,r)= \{x: x\in {\mathcal A},| x- a|< r\}\). Let \(\Gamma\subset {\mathcal A}\) be a discrete group of invertible elements. Then for any \(r< r_ 0= 2- \sqrt 3\) the group generated by \(\Gamma\cap B(1,r)\) is nilpotent. If \(\mathcal A\) is finite-dimensional then \(r= r_ 0\). Assume that \(\mathcal A\) has an involution \(^ \dag: {\mathcal A}\to {\mathcal A}\) which is an isometry. Let \(j\in {\mathcal A}\) be a unit such that the multiplication by \(j\) from the left and the right is an isometry. Set \(O(j)= \{x: x^ \dag jx= j, x\in {\mathcal A}\}\). Assume that \(\Gamma\subset O(j)\) is a discrete group. Let \(r_ 1\approx 0.2971\) be the positive solution of \(2r(1+ r)^ 2= 1\). Then for any \(r< r_ 1\) the group generated by \(\Gamma\cap B(1,r)\) is nilpotent. If \(\mathcal A\) is finite- dimensional then \(r= r_ 1\). We apply these inequalities to improve Martin's lower bound for the radius of a ball contained in a hyperbolic \(n\)-manifold.