On the type of triangle groups (Q2477023)

Given three integers \(n_1,n_2\) and \(n_3\) which are all \(\geq 2\), an \((n_1,n_2,n_3)\)-complex hyperbolic triangle group is an isometry group of the complex hyperbolic plane \(\mathbb{H}_{\mathbb{C}}^2\) generated by complex reflections \(I_1,I_2,I_3\) in complex geodesics \(C_1,C_2,C_3\) such that \(C_i\) and \(C_{i+1}\) (indices mod 3) meet at angle \(\pi/n_i\). For fixed \(n_1,n_2,n_3\) modulo conjugacy in \(\mathrm{Isom}(\mathbb{H}_{\mathbb{C}}^2)\), there exists in general a one-parameter family of \((n_1,n_2,n_3)\)-triangle groups. For \(n_1\leq n_2\leq n_3\), the triple \(n_1,n_2,n_3\) is classified with respect to the behaviour of the isometries \(W_A= I_3I_2I_1I_2\) and \(W_B= I_1I_2I_3\) while a parameter of the \(n_1,n_2,n_3\)-triangle group family varies in a canonical way. The triple is said to be of type \(A\) if \(W_A\) becomes regular elliptic before \(W_B\) and of type \(B\) if \(W_B\) becomes regular elliptic before \(W_A\). The main result of this paper is that the triple \((n_1,n_2,n_3)\) is of type \(A\) if \(n_1\leq 9\) and of type \(B\) if \(n_1\geq 14\). The result was conjectured by \textit{R. Schwartz}, in his paper [``Complex hyperbolic triangle groups'', in Proceedings of the international congress of mathematicians, ICM 2002, Beijing, China, August 20--28, 2002. Vol. II: Invited lectures. 339--349 (2002; Zbl 1022.53034)].