The Bianchi groups Bi(d)=PSL(2,O_d) < PSL(2,C) (where O_d denotes the
ring of integers of Q(i\sqrt{d}), with d >0 squarefree) can be viewed as
subgroups of SO(3,1) under the isomorphism PSL(2,C) --> SO^0(3,1). We
study the deformations of these groups into the larger Lie groups
SU(3,1) and SL(4,R) for small values of d. In particular we show that
Bi(3), which is rigid in SO(3,1), admits a 1-dimensional deformation
space into SU(3,1) and SL(4,R), whereas any deformation of Bi(1) into
SU(3,1) or SL(4,R) is conjugate to one inside SO(3,1). We also show that
none of the deformations into SU(3,1) are both discrete and faithful.
This is joint work with Morwen Thistlethwaite.
Geometry and Topology Seminar
Friday, September 9
12:00pm MST/AZ
WXLR A118
Julien Paupert
Assistant Professor
Arizona State University