Lefschetz numbers of symplectic involutions on arithmetic groups

Abstract

The reduced norm-one group G of a central simple algebra is an inner form of the special linear group, and an involution on the algebra induces an automorphism of G. We study the action of such automorphisms in the cohomology of arithmetic subgroups of G. The main result is a precise formula for Lefschetz numbers of automorphisms induced by involutions of symplectic type. Our approach is based on a careful study of the smoothness properties of group schemes associated with orders in central simple algebras. Along the way we also derive an adelic reformulation of Harder's Gauss-Bonnet Theorem.