Two theorems on units of orders (Q5954706)

Let \(K\) be an algebraic number field with ring of integers \(R\). Consider an \(R\)-order \(\Lambda\) in a central simple \(K\)-algebra \(A\). The author's first theorem states that \(\mathbb{Q}(\Lambda^\times)=A\) holds unless \(A=K\) is a CM field or \(A\) is a totally definite quaternion algebra. In fact, the statement is proved more generally for any subgroup \(\Gamma\) of finite index instead of \(\Lambda^\times\). The second theorem says that \(\Gamma\) is virtually solvable if and only if \(A=K\) or \(A\) is a totally definite quaternion algebra. So \(\Lambda^\times\) is virtually solvable if and only if \(\Lambda^\times\) is virtually Abelian. This answers a question of \textit{H.~Zassenhaus} [Commun. Algebra 6, 1621-1627 (1978; Zbl 0392.16004)]. Note that Margulis' theorem on index-finiteness with respect to discrete subgroups does not apply to all cases here.