On the spectral gap for infinite index ``congruence subgroups of SL₂(Z)

Graphs and abstract algebra (groups, rings, fields, etc.) (05C25) Extremal problems in graph theory (05C35) Spectral theory; trace formulas (e.g., that of Selberg) (11F72)

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Let \(\Lambda\) be a finitely generated subgroup of \(\text{SL}_2(\mathbb{Z})\) and assume that \(\Lambda\) is not cofinite. Put \(\Lambda(p):= \Lambda\cap \Gamma(p)\) where \(\Gamma(p)\) is the principal congruence subgroup of level \(p\), and let \(\lambda_j (\Lambda(p) \setminus\mathbb{H})\) denote the \(j\)th eigenvalue of \(-\Delta\) on \(\Lambda(p) \setminus\mathbb{H}\). It is known that there are only finitely many discrete eigenvalues, all contained in \([0,\frac 14[\), and it is known that \(\lambda_0 (\Lambda(p) \setminus\mathbb{H})= \delta(1-\delta)\) where \(\delta\) denotes the Hausdorff dimension of the limit set of \(\Lambda\) provided that \(\delta>\frac 12\). The main theorem of the paper under review says: Assume that \(\delta>\frac 56\). Then for \(p\) large enough \[ \Omega (\Lambda(p) \setminus\mathbb{H})\cap [\delta (1-\delta), \tfrac {5}{36}[= \Omega (\Lambda \setminus\mathbb{H})\cap [\delta (1-\delta), \tfrac {5}{36}[, \] where \(\Omega(\cdot)\) denotes the spectrum. Corollary: For \(p\) large enough, \[ \lambda_1 (\Lambda(p) \setminus\mathbb{H})\geq \min(\lambda_1 (\Lambda \setminus\mathbb{H}), \tfrac {5}{36}). \] Restating the corollary in representation-theoretic language the author constructs a family of expanders, thus solving a problem raised by A. Lubotzky.

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