Cesàro asymptotics for the orders of SLk(Zn) and GLk(Zn) as n→∞

Given an integer k>0, our main result states that the sequence of orders of the groups $\text{SL}{}_{\mathrm{k}}\text{(}\text{Z}{}_{\mathrm{n}}\text{)}$ (respectively, of the groups $\text{GL}{}_{\mathrm{k}}\text{(}\text{Z}{}_{\mathrm{n}}\text{)}$) is Cesàro equivalent as n→∞ to the sequence C₁(k)n^k2?1 (respectively, C₂(k)n^k2), where the coefficients C₁(k) and C₂(k) depend only on k; we give explicit formulas for C₁(k) and C₂(k). This result generalizes the theorem (which was first published by I. Schoenberg) that says that the Euler function ?(n) is Cesàro equivalent to $\text{n}\text{6}\text{π}{}^2$. We present some experimental facts related to the main result. To cite this article: A.G. Gorinov, S.V. Shadchin, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 337 (2003).