Finite subgroups of arithmetic lattices in \(U (2,1)\) (Q881915)

The author determines the possible finite subgroups of arithmetic lattices in \(U(2,1)\). The arithmetic lattices in \(U(2,1)\) come in two flavors, called first and second type. Every finite subgroup of an arithmetic lattice \(\Gamma\) in \(U(2,1)\) is conjugate in \(\text{GL}(3,\mathbb{C})\) into \(U(2)\times U(1)\). For the lattices of the first type the converse holds: Every finite subgroup of \(U(2)\times U(1)\) is isomorphic to a finite subgroup of an arithmetic lattice \(\Gamma\) in U(2,1) of the first type. For arithmetic lattices of the second type the story is quite different. Every finite subgroup of such a lattice is cyclic. In the introduction the author reviews briefly the history of the study of finite groups in linear groups. One might add the recent work by \textit{J. P. Serre} [Bounds for the orders of the finite subgroups of \(G(k)\). Group representation theory, 405--450, EPFL Press, Lausanne (2007)] and its references.