First Hurwitz triplet


In the mathematical theory of Riemann surfaces, the first Hurwitz triplet is a triple of distinct Hurwitz surfaces with the identical automorphism group of the lowest possible genus, namely 14. The explanation for this phenomenon is arithmetic. Namely, in the ring of integers of the appropriate number field, the rational prime 13 splits as a product of three distinct prime ideals. The principal congruence subgroups defined by the triplet of primes produce Fuchsian groups corresponding to the triplet of Riemann surfaces.

Arithmetic construction

Let be the real subfield of where is a 7th-primitive root of unity.
The ring of integers of K is, where. Let be the quaternion algebra, or symbol algebra. Also Let and. Let. Then is a maximal order of , described explicitly by Noam Elkies .
In order to construct the first Hurwitz triplet, consider the prime decomposition of 13 in, namely
where is invertible. Also consider the prime ideals generated by the non-invertible factors. The principal congruence subgroup defined by such a prime ideal I is by definition the group
namely, the group of elements of reduced norm 1 in equivalent to 1 modulo the ideal. The corresponding Fuchsian group is obtained as the image of the principal congruence subgroup under a representation to PSL.
Each of the three Riemann surfaces in the first Hurwitz triplet can be formed as a Fuchsian model, the quotient of the hyperbolic plane by one of these three Fuchsian groups.

Bound for systolic length and the systolic ratio

The Gauss–Bonnet theorem states that
where is the Euler characteristic of the surface and is the Gaussian curvature. In the case we have
thus we obtain that the area of these surfaces is
The lower bound on the systole as specified in , namely
is 3.5187.
Some specific details about each of the surfaces are presented in the following tables. The term Systolic Trace refers to the least reduced trace of an element in the corresponding subgroup. The systolic ratio is the ratio of the square of the systole to the area.
Ideal
Systole5.9039
Systolic Trace
Systolic Ratio0.2133
Number of Systolic Loops91

Ideal
Systole6.3933
Systolic Trace
Systolic Ratio0.2502
Number of Systolic Loops78

Ideal
Systole6.8879
Systolic Trace
Systolic Ratio0.2904
Number of Systolic Loops364