Arithmetic intersections of modular geodesics (Q2235724)

The authors write: ``The goal of this note is to propose an arithmetic intersection theory for modular geodesics, attaching to a pair of such geodesics certain numerical invariants that are rich enough to (ostensibly) generate class fields of real quadratic fields. The predicted algebraicity of these quantities is a by-product of the approach of \textit{H. Darmon} and \textit{J. Vonk} [Duke Math. J. 170, No. 1, 23--93 (2021; Zbl 1486.11137)] to explicit class field theory based on the RM values of rigid meromorphic cocycles, but avoids the latter notion and offers a somewhat complementary perspective.'' Here ``RM'' stands for real multiplication and a ``modular geodesic'' is the image on \(\mathrm{SL}_{2}(\mathbb{Z})\setminus\mathfrak{H}\) of the oriented geodesic joining the two roots of an indefinite primitive integral binary quadratic form on the upper half-plane \(\mathfrak{H}\). For any pair of distinct closed geodesics \((\gamma_{1}, \gamma_{2})\) on \(\Gamma\setminus\mathfrak{H}\), where \(\Gamma\) is an arithmetic subgroup of \(\mathrm{SL}_{2}(\mathbb{R})\) arising from the multiplicative group of an order in an indefinite quaternion algebra \(B\) over \(\mathbb{Q}\), the authors define an arithmetic intersection \(\gamma_{1} \star \gamma_{2}\). Given a rational prime \(p\) not dividing the discriminant of \(B\) and an order \(R\) of \(B\) of discriminant prime to \(p\), let \(\Gamma_{p}:=(R[1/p])_{1}^{\star}\) (here \(O_{1}^{\star}\) stands for the group of the elements of an order \(O\) of reduced norm one), then a \(p\)-arithmetic intersection \((\gamma_{1} \star \gamma_{2})_{\Gamma_{p}}\) is defined as a certain infinite \(p\)-adically absolutely convergent product. At last conjecturally certain ``incoherent intersection numbers'' attached to a pair of RM divisors are defined and their conjectural relation to compatible systems of geodesics on an ``incoherent collection'' of Shimura curves is briefly discussed. The authors state seven conjectures and ask a few questions concerning the hypothetical algebraic properties of the defined intersections.