Discrete subgroups of PU(2,1) with screw parabolic elements.

Abstract

We give a version of Shimizu's lemma for groups of complex hyperbolic isometries one of whose generators is a parabolic screw motion. Suppose that G is a discrete group containing a parabolic screw motion A and let B be any element of G not fixing the fixed point of A. Our result gives a bound on the radius of the isometric spheres of B and B−1 in terms of the translation lengths of A at their centres. We use this result to give a sub-horospherical region precisely invariant under the stabiliser of the fixed point of A in G.