Strong Approximation Conjecture for the Markoff surface

Let X\mathbb X be the affine surface

X:x12+x22+x323x1x2x3=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.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

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

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