Coset Diagram for the Action of Picard Group on $\mathbb{Q}(i,\sqrt{3})$

Abstract

In this paper coset diagrams, propounded by Higman, are used to investigate the behavior of elements as words in orbits of the action of the Picard group Γ=PSL(2,ℤ[i]) on [Formula: see text]. Graphical interpretation of amalgamation of the components of Γ is also given. Some elements [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] and their conjugates [Formula: see text] over ℚ(i) have different signs in the orbits of the biquadratic field [Formula: see text] when acted upon by Γ. Such real quadratic irrational numbers are called ambiguous numbers. It is shown that ambiguous numbers in these coset diagrams form a unique pattern. It is proved that there are a finite number of ambiguous numbers in an orbit Γα, and they form a closed path which is the only closed path in the orbit Γα. We also devise a procedure to obtain ambiguous numbers of the form [Formula: see text], where b is a positive integer.