On the resolution of cusp singularities and the Shintani decomposition in totally real cubic number fields (Q1256014)

Let \(K\) be a totally real number field of degree \(n\) and \(K\hookrightarrow \mathbb R^n\) the usual embedding. Let \(M\) be a lattice of rank \(n\) in \(K\) and \(V\) a subgroup of maximal rank \((n-1)\) of the group of those totally positive units which stabilize \(M\). Pairs \((M,V)\) describe cusps of the Hilbert modular variety associated to \(K\). In a beautiful series of papers, Hirzebruch has shown how to use the number theory of \(K\) to resolve these cusps when \(n=2\). This papers gives completely explicit resolutions of these cusps for two infinite families of cubics. More generally, for any cubic it gives a fundamental domain, \(D\), for the action of \(V\) on \(\mathbb R^n_+\) such that \(D\) is a finite union of open simplicial cones with vertices in \(M\). Following \textit{M. Shintani} [J. Fac. Sci., Univ. Tokyo, Sect. I A 23, 393--417 (1976; Zbl 0349.12007)], this can be used to calculate, as a finite sum, the values at nonnegative integers of a certain zeta function attached to \(M\). The methods used are geometric with a mild use of algebraic topology.