Generators of Arithmetic Quaternion Groups and a Diophantine Problem

Abstract

Let $p$ be a prime and $a$ a quadratic non-residue $\bmod p$. Then the set of integral solutions of the diophantine equation $x_0^2 - ax_1^2 -px_2^2 + apx_3^2=1$ form a cocompact discrete subgroup $\Gamma_{p,a}\subset SL(2,\mathbb{R})$ and is commensurable with the group of units of an order in a quaternion algebra over $\mathbb{Q}$. The problem addressed in this paper is an estimate for the traces of a set of generators for $\Gamma_{p,a}$. Empirical results summarized in several tables show that the trace has significant and irregular fluctuations which is reminiscent of the behavior of the size of a generator for the solutions of Pell's equation. The geometry and arithmetic of the group of units of an order in a quaternion algebra play a key role in the development of the code for the purpose of this paper.