An asymptotic formula for integer points on Markoff-Hurwitz varieties (Q2338376)

In this paper, the authors consider the variety \(V\) defined by the generalized Markoff-Hurwitz equation \(x_1^2+ x_2^2+\cdots +x_n^2=ax_1x_2\cdots x_n+k\) and seek the rate of growth for the set \(V(\mathbb Z)\cap B(R)\), where \(B(R)\) is a ball of radius \(R\). For the Markoff equation (\(n=3\), \(a=3\), \(k=0\)), \textit{D. Zagier} [Math. Comput. 39, 709--723 (1982; Zbl 0501.10015)] showed \(|V(\mathbb Z)\cap B(R)|=c(\log R)^2+O(\log R(\log\log R)^2)\) and calculated \(c\). The case \(n\geq 4\) (with \(k=0\)) was studied by the reviewer, who showed [Pac. J. Math. 182, No. 1, 1--21 (1998; Zbl 0892.11009)] there exists a constant \(\beta=\beta(n)\) so that if \(V(\mathbb Z)\) includes a non-trivial solution (i.e. not all zeros), then \(|V(\mathbb Z)\cap B(R)|=(\log R)^{\beta+o(1)}\), and found bounds on \(\beta(n)\). Except for \(\beta(3)=2\) (by Zagier's result), the exact value of \(\beta(n)\) is not known. The authors improve Baragar's result to a true asymptotic: For each \((n,a,k)\) with \(V(\mathbb Z)-{\mathcal E}\) infinite, there is a positive \(c=c(n,a,k)\) such that \[ |V(\mathbb Z)\cap B(R)|=c(\log R)^\beta + o((\log R)^\beta), \] where \(\beta=\beta(n)\) depends only on \(n\). The set \({\mathcal E}\) is a certain exceptional family of solutions. It is non-empty only if \(k-n+2\) or \(k-n-1\) is a square, and in those cases, it dominates, as \({\mathcal E}\cap B(R)|\geq cR\) for some \(c>0\). (The exceptional set \({\mathcal E}\) lies on an infinite union of rational curves on the variety, one of which is a line.) There is a nice parallel with a similar problem related to Apollonian circle packings: Let \(N(R)\) count the number circles with curvature bounded by \(R\) in some Apollonian circle packing. \textit{D. W. Boyd} [Aequationes Math. 9, 99--106 (1973; Zbl 0255.52006)] found \(N(R)=R^{\delta+o(1)}\) where \(\delta\) is independent of the packing (it is the Hausdorff dimension of the residual set). \textit{A. Kontorovich} and \textit{H. Oh} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 24, No. 3, 603--648 (2011; Zbl 1235.22015)] improve this to a true asymptotic.