Salem numbers and arithmetic hyperbolic groups

In this paper we prove that there is a direct relationship between Salem numbers and translation lengths of hyperbolic elements of arithmetic hyperbolic groups that are determined by a quadratic form over a totally real number field. As an application we determine a sharp lower bound for the length of a closed geodesic in a noncompact arithmetic hyperbolic n-orbifold for each dimension n. We also discuss a "short geodesic conjecture", and prove its equivalence with "Lehmer's conjecture" for Salem numbers.Comment: The exposition in version 3 is more compact; this shortens the paper: 26 pages now instead of 37. A discussion on Lehmer's problem has been added in Section 1.2. Final version, to appear is Trans. AM