Representation zeta functions of compact \(p\)-adic analytic groups and arithmetic groups (Q1937191)

For a group \(G\), let \(r_n(G)\) be the number of isomorphism classes of \(n\)-dimensional irreducible complex representations of \(G\). In this paper, the authors study the representation zeta function \(\zeta_{G}(s):=\sum^{\infty}_{n=1}r_n(G)n^{-s}\) for a rigid group \(G\). One of the reasons to investigate such a zeta function is that the abscissa of convergence \(\alpha(G)\) of \(\zeta_G(s)\) describes the representation growth of \(G\). The authors first study \(\zeta_{G}(s)\) when \(G\) is a \(p\)-adic analytic pro-\(p\) group which arises from the completions of a global Lie lattice over the ring of integers of a number field; Establishing a method of \(\mathfrak{p}\)-adic integrals generalizing Igusa local zeta functions, they provide a universal formula, obtain a local functional equation and find the finite set of the real parts of possible poles of the zeta function. Furthermore, they obtain explicit formulas when \(G\) is a principal congruence subgroup of \(\mathrm{SL}_3(\mathfrak{o})\) and of \(\mathrm{SU}_3(\mathfrak{O},\mathfrak{o})\). Here \(\mathfrak{o}\) is a compact discrete valuation ring of characteristic zero and \(\mathfrak{O}\) an unramified quadratic extension of \(\mathfrak{o}\). Next, the authors study \(\zeta_{\Gamma}(s)\) when \(\Gamma\) is an arithmetic subgroup of a connected, simply connected simple algebraic group of type \(A_2\) defined over a number field. For such a group \(\Gamma\), it is known that if \(\Gamma\) has the congruence subgroup property CSP, then \(\zeta_{\Gamma}(s)\) admits an Euler product decomposition. From this fact, combining the above local results together with approximative Clifford theory, they prove that \(\alpha(\Gamma)=1\) when \(\Gamma\) has the CSP. Moreover, as a corollary, they show that Serre's conjecture, which asserts that an arithmetic subgroup of a connected, simply connected simple algebraic group has the CSP if and only if the latter is of higher-rank, implies Larsen and Lubotzky's conjecture. Namely, if \(\Gamma_1\) and \(\Gamma_2\) are any two irreducible lattices in a higher-rank semisimple group being products of groups of type \(A_2\), then \(\alpha(\Gamma_1)=\alpha(\Gamma_2)\).