On arithmetic quotients of the group SL2 over a quaternion division k-algebra

Abstract

Abstract Given a totally real algebraic number field k of degree s, we consider locally symmetric spaces X G / Γ {X_{G}/\Gamma} associated with arithmetic subgroups Γ of the special linear algebraic k-group G = SL M 2 ⁢ ( D ) {G=\mathrm{SL}_{M_{2}(D)}} , attached to a quaternion division k-algebra D. The group G is k-simple, of k-rank one, and non-split over k. Using reduction theory, one can construct an open subset Y Γ ⊂ X G / Γ {Y_{\Gamma}\subset X_{G}/\Gamma} such that its closure Y ¯ Γ {\overline{Y}_{\Gamma}} is a compact manifold with boundary ∂ ⁡ Y ¯ Γ {\partial\overline{Y}_{\Gamma}} , and the inclusion Y ¯ Γ → X G / Γ {\overline{Y}_{\Gamma}\rightarrow X_{G}/\Gamma} is a homotopy equivalence. The connected components Y [ P ] {Y^{[P]}} of the boundary ∂ ⁡ Y ¯ Γ {\partial\overline{Y}_{\Gamma}} are in one-to-one correspondence with the finite set of Γ-conjugacy classes of minimal parabolic k-subgroups of G. We show that each boundary component carries the natural structure of a torus bundle. Firstly, if the quaternion division k-algebra D is totally definite, that is, D ramifies at all archimedean places of k, we prove that the basis of this bundle is homeomorphic to the torus T s - 1 {T^{s-1}} of dimension s - 1 {s-1} , has the compact fibre T 4 ⁢ s {T^{4s}} , and its structure group is SL 4 ⁢ s ⁢ ( ℤ ) {\mathrm{SL}_{4s}(\mathbb{Z})} . We determine the cohomology of Y [ P ] {Y^{[P]}} . Secondly, if the quaternion division k-algebra D is indefinite, thus, there exists at least one archimedean place v ∈ V k , ∞ {v\in V_{k,\infty}} at which D v {D_{v}} splits over ℝ {\mathbb{R}} , that is, D v ≅ M 2 ⁢ ( ℝ ) {D_{v}\cong M_{2}(\mathbb{R})} , the fibre is homeomorphic to T 4 ⁢ s {T^{4s}} , but the base space of the bundle is more complicated.