Divisibility conjecture for generic Markoff-surface orbits

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Let pp be a prime, and let

Mk:x2+y2+z2−xyz−2=k\mathbf{M}_k:x^2+y^2+z^2-xyz-2=k

be a Markoff surface over Fp\mathbb{F}_p. Call a level kk generic when it contains no orbits associated with A4A_4, S4S_4, or A5A_5. Let O\mathcal{O} be an orbit at a generic level kk, and suppose that O\mathcal{O} is not exceptional, meaning that it contains a triple with at least two nonzero coordinates. Divisibility conjecture. The orbit size satisfies

∣O∣ is divisible by p−(k2−4p).|\mathcal{O}|\text{ is divisible by }p-\left(\frac{k^2-4}{p}\right).

Here (⋅p)(\frac{\cdot}{p}) is the Legendre symbol. The conjecture is motivated by the expected sizes of the large, or cage, orbits after exceptional orbits are removed; the source gives no resolution status.

References

Primary source

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

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