Strong Approximation Conjecture for the Markoff surface

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Let X\mathbb X be the affine surface

X:x12+x22+x32−3x1x2x3=0.\mathbb X: x_1^2+x_2^2+x_3^2-3x_1x_2x_3=0.

Let Γ\Gamma be the group of affine integral morphisms of A3\mathbb A^3 generated by coordinate permutations and the Vieta involutions. For a prime pp, let X(Z/pZ)\mathbb X(\mathbb Z/p\mathbb Z) be the set of solutions modulo pp, and define

X∗(Z/pZ)=X(Z/pZ)∖{(0,0,0)}.X^*(\mathbb Z/p\mathbb Z)=\mathbb X(\mathbb Z/p\mathbb Z)\setminus\{(0,0,0)\}.

Strong Approximation Conjecture. For any prime pp, X(Z/pZ)\mathbb X(\mathbb Z/p\mathbb Z) consists of exactly two Γ\Gamma-orbits, namely

{(0,0,0)}andX∗(Z/pZ).\{(0,0,0)\}\quad\text{and}\quad X^*(\mathbb Z/p\mathbb Z).

This asserts that the nonzero solutions to the Markoff equation form a single orbit under the natural Vieta and permutation symmetries, a strong approximation property for the Markoff surface. The supplied text does not state whether the conjecture is proved or remains open.

References

Primary source

Jean Bourgain, Alexander Gamburd and Peter Sarnak, “Markoff Surfaces and Strong Approximation: 1”, arXiv:1607.01530 (2016).

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