Strong approximation conjecture for Markoff surfaces

Let pp be a prime and let Mk\mathbf{M}_k be the Markoff surface

Mk:x2+y2+z2xyz2=k.\mathbf{M}_k:x^2+y^2+z^2-xyz-2=k.

Let Ek\mathcal{E}_k denote the union of the exceptional orbits in Mk(Fp)\mathbf{M}_k(\mathbb{F}_p), and let Ck\mathcal{C}_k be an orbit. Strong approximation conjecture. For each level k2k\ne2, there is a single orbit Ck\mathcal{C}_k such that

Mk(Fp)=CkEk.\mathbf{M}_k(\mathbb{F}_p)=\mathcal{C}_k\sqcup\mathcal{E}_k.

This is the orbit formulation of strong approximation: outside the exceptional orbits, every non-singular level should consist of one large orbit. The source discusses substantial partial results, including a large orbit with a small complement, but does not state that the exact conjecture is resolved.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

João C. C. Vargas, “Markoff triples and generating pairs of SL_2(F_p)”, arXiv:2508.21671 (2025).

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