English

The Markoff equation over polynomial rings

Number Theory 2020-03-13 v1

Abstract

When A=3A=3, the positive integral solutions of the so-called Markoff equation MA:x2+y2+z2=AxyzM_A:x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = Axyz can be generated from the single solution (1,1,1)(1,1,1) by the action of certain automorphisms of the hypersurface. Since Markoff's proof of this fact, several authors have showed that the structure of MA(R)M_A(R), when RR is Z[i]\mathbf{Z}[i] or certain orders in number fields, behave in a similar fashion. Moreover, for R=ZR=\mathbf{Z} and R=Z[i]R=\mathbf{Z}[i], Zagier and Silverman, respectively, have found asymptotic formulae for the number of integral points of bounded height. In this paper, we investigate these problems when RR is a polynomial ring over a field KK of odd characteristic. We characterize the set MA(K[t])M_A(K[t]) in a similar fashion as Markoff and previous authors. We also give an asymptotic formula that is similar to Zagier's and Silverman's formula.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2003.05584,
  title  = {The Markoff equation over polynomial rings},
  author = {Ricardo Conceição and Rachael Kelly and Samuel VanFossen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2003.05584},
  year   = {2020}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-23T14:12:20.429Z