A classification of ${\mathbb C}$-Fuchsian subgroups of Picard modular groups
Résumé
Given an imaginary quadratic extension $K$ of $\mathbb Q$, we give a classification of the maximal nonelementary subgroups of the Picard modular group $PSU_{1,2}({\mathcal O}_K)$ preserving a complex geodesic in the complex hyperbolic plane ${\mathbb H}^2_{\mathbb C}$. Complementing work of Holzapfel, Chinburg-Stover and M\"oller-Toledo, we show that these maximal ${\mathbb C}$-Fuchsian subgroups are arithmetic, arising from a quaternion algebra $\Big(\!\begin{array}{c} D\,,D_K\\\hline{\mathbb Q}\end{array} \!\Big)$ for some explicit $D\in{\mathbb N}-\{0\}$ and $D_K$ the discriminant of $K$. We thus prove the existence of infinitely many orbits of $K$-arithmetic chains in the hypersphere of ${\mathbb P}_2({\mathbb C})$.