Trace fields of subgroups of \(\mathrm{SU}(n,1)\) (Q490011)

Arithmetic subgroups of \(\mathrm{PSL}_2(\mathbb{C})\) are constructed from pairs \((k, \mathcal{A})\) where \(k\) is a number field and \(\mathcal{A}\) a quaternionic algebra. If the subgroup \(\Gamma\) is given, then such pairs can be constructed. The field is the trace field of the subgroup \({\Gamma}^{(2)}\) of \(\Gamma\) generated by squares. Topologically, it was proved that the manifold \(\mathbb{H}^3_{\mathbb{R}}/{\Gamma}\) can be triangulated by ideal hyperbolic tetrahedra and the field generated by the cross ratios of the vertices of the tetrahedra is exactly the field \(k\). In the paper under review, the author generalizes the above constructions to the complex case. Let \(\Gamma < \mathrm{SU}(2, 1)\) and assume that \(\Gamma\) contains a parabolic element and is Zariski closed. Then \({\Gamma}\) is conjugate to a subgroup of \(\mathrm{SU}(2, 1, Tr({\Gamma}))\). For the connection to topology, let \(M\) be a \(3\)-dimensional open manifold and \(\rho\) the holonomy representation to \(\mathrm{PU}(2,1 )\). The manifold \(M\) admits a triangulation with ideal tetrahedra, which can be assumed to have their vertices on \(S^3\). Also, each face of a tetrahedron is identified with another face through the action of \(\mathrm{PU}(2,1)\). In [\textit{E. Falbel}, J. Differ. Geom. 79, No. 1, 69--110 (2008; Zbl 1148.57025)] it was shown that such quadruples, that appear as vertices of the tetrahedra, determine an invariant in \(\mathbb{C}^4\). Let \(k_{\Delta}\) be the field generated by all such invariants. Then \(k_{\Delta}\) is a commensurability invariant. The main topological result is that, if each vertex of the triangulation is a parabolic fixed point then \(k({\Gamma}) = k_{\Delta}\). Here \(k({\Gamma})\) is the trace field of the lifting \(\widetilde{\Gamma}\) of \(\Gamma\) to \(\mathrm{SU}(2,1)\). Notice that \(\Gamma\) has index \(3\) in \(\widetilde{\Gamma}\). Let \(\Gamma\) be an arithmetic lattice of the first type. That means \({\Gamma} < \mathrm{SU}(n, 1)\) and \(\Gamma\) is conjugate to a group commensurable with \(\mathrm{SU}(H, \mathcal{O}_E)\). Here, \(E = F({\alpha})\) is a totally imaginary quadratic field over the totally real field \(F\), and \(H\) is a Hermitian matrix of signature \((n, 1)\) with coefficients in \(E\). Then, the coefficients of \(\Gamma\) are in the field \(Tr({\Gamma})({\alpha})\).