Orbit distribution on \(\mathbb R^2\) under the natural action of \(\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb Z)\) (Q1866460)

The distribution of orbits under the natural linear action of \(\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb Z\) on the plane is studied. An application/example is the evaluation of the asymptotic behaviour of the set \(\{A\in \mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb Z)\mid Ax\in [0,r]^2, \|A\|\leq t\}\) for large \(r,t>0\), where \(x\) is an explicit vector with incommensurable entries. More general results in this direction have been obtained by \textit{F. Ledrappier} [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I, Math. 329, No. 1, 61--64 (1999; Zbl 0928.22012)] and others using the ergodic theory of Lie group actions. In this paper more restricted results are reached using number theory methods, giving sharper and more explicit error terms.