Arithmetic Fuchsian groups of signature \((0;m_1,m_2,m_3,m_4)\). (Q2874371)

Let \(k\) be a totally real number field and let \(A\) be a quaternion algebra over \(k\). It is assumed that \(A\) is ramified at all real places of \(k\) except one. Considering \(k\) as a subfield of \(\mathbb R\), there is therefore a \(k\)-embedding of \(A\) into \(M_2(\mathbb R)\). An \textit{arithmetic Fuchsian group} is a subgroup of \(\mathrm{PSL}_2(\mathbb R)\) commensurable (in the wide sense) with \(P(\mathcal O^1)\), where \(\mathcal O^1\) is the set of norm one elements in \(\mathcal O\), an order in \(A\). For maximal arithmetic Fuchsian groups a theorem of Borel shows that the orders involved are either maximal or Eichler. A classification of any family of such groups aims at determining all its conjugacy classes via its commensurability classes. Such a classification incorporates \textit{arithmetic data}, which include, for example, the degree \(|k:\mathbb Q|\), the discriminant of \(k\), together with the possible orders of torsion elements. In this paper the authors obtain such a classification for the arithmetic Fuchsian groups with a signature of the form \((0;m_1,m_2,m_3,m_4)\), the so-called (arithmetic) \textit{Vierecksgruppen} or VE groups. The results are already known but only for a number of very special cases.NEWLINENEWLINE While working on this paper the first author died on 26 November 2012. This was a great loss to the mathematical community and a personal loss to his many friends within that community.