Fundamental Domain Theorem for the Modular Group (Theorem # 4217)
Theorem
Let $\mathbb H := \{z \in \mathbb C : \operatorname{Im}(z) > 0\}$, and let $SL_2(\mathbb Z)$ act on $\mathbb H$ by fractional linear transformations
\begin{align*}
\begin{pmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{pmatrix} z = \frac{az+b}{cz+d}.
\end{align*}
Define
\begin{align*}
\mathcal F := \{z \in \mathbb H : |z| \geq 1,\ -\tfrac{1}{2} \leq \operatorname{Re}(z) \leq \tfrac{1}{2}\}.
\end{align*}
Let
\begin{align*}
T := \begin{pmatrix}1&1\\0&1\end{pmatrix}, \qquad S := \begin{pmatrix}0&-1\\1&0\end{pmatrix}.
\end{align*}
Then every point of $\mathbb H$ is $SL_2(\mathbb Z)$-equivalent to a point of $\mathcal F$. If $z,w \in \operatorname{int}(\mathcal F)$ and $w = \gamma z$ for some $\gamma \in SL_2(\mathbb Z)$, then $z=w$. Moreover, all identifications among distinct points of $\mathcal F$ occur on the boundary and are generated by the side-pairings $T(z)=z+1$ between the two vertical sides and $S(z)=-1/z$ on the circular arc $|z|=1$.
Discussion
A result from [Modular Forms I: Classical Theory](/page/Modular%20Forms%20I%3A%20Classical%20Theory) concerning Fundamental Domain Theorem for the Modular Group, in the setting of classical modular forms, modular group actions, and related analytic structures.
Proof
[proofplan]
We first prove existence by choosing, among all transforms of a given point $z \in \mathbb H$, one with maximal imaginary part. This is possible because the quantities $cz+d$ form a discrete subset of $\mathbb C$ as $(c,d)$ ranges over primitive integer pairs. We then translate horizontally by a power of $T$ to enter the standard vertical strip, and maximality forces the point to lie outside the unit disk. For uniqueness in the interior, the same imaginary-part formula shows that an equivalent interior point cannot come from a matrix with nonzero lower-left entry; the remaining translation must be trivial. Finally, the equality cases in the inequalities defining $\mathcal F$ give precisely the vertical and circular boundary pairings.
[/proofplan]
[step:Compute the imaginary part of a modular transform]
Let
\begin{align*}
\gamma := \begin{pmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{pmatrix} \in SL_2(\mathbb Z)
\end{align*}
and let $z=x+iy \in \mathbb H$, where $x:=\operatorname{Re}(z)$ and $y:=\operatorname{Im}(z)>0$. Since $ad-bc=1$, we have
\begin{align*}
\operatorname{Im}(\gamma z)
&= \operatorname{Im}\left(\frac{az+b}{cz+d}\right) \\
&= \operatorname{Im}\left(\frac{(az+b)(c\overline z+d)}{|cz+d|^2}\right) \\
&= \frac{\operatorname{Im}(ac|z|^2+ad z+bc\overline z+bd)}{|cz+d|^2} \\
&= \frac{(ad-bc)y}{|cz+d|^2} \\
&= \frac{y}{|cz+d|^2}.
\end{align*}
Thus maximizing $\operatorname{Im}(\gamma z)$ is equivalent to minimizing $|cz+d|$ over all bottom rows $(c,d)$ of matrices in $SL_2(\mathbb Z)$.
[guided]
The key quantity is the denominator $cz+d$. Let
\begin{align*}
\gamma := \begin{pmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{pmatrix} \in SL_2(\mathbb Z),
\end{align*}
so $a,b,c,d \in \mathbb Z$ and $ad-bc=1$. For $z=x+iy \in \mathbb H$, with $y>0$, compute the imaginary part of the fractional linear transformation:
\begin{align*}
\gamma z = \frac{az+b}{cz+d}.
\end{align*}
Multiplying numerator and denominator by $c\overline z+d$ gives
\begin{align*}
\gamma z
= \frac{(az+b)(c\overline z+d)}{|cz+d|^2}
= \frac{ac|z|^2+ad z+bc\overline z+bd}{|cz+d|^2}.
\end{align*}
The terms $ac|z|^2$ and $bd$ are real. Since $\operatorname{Im}(z)=y$ and $\operatorname{Im}(\overline z)=-y$, the imaginary part of the numerator is
\begin{align*}
ad\,y+bc(-y)=(ad-bc)y=y.
\end{align*}
Therefore
\begin{align*}
\operatorname{Im}(\gamma z)=\frac{y}{|cz+d|^2}.
\end{align*}
This formula is the engine of the proof: making the transformed point as high as possible in $\mathbb H$ is the same as making $|cz+d|$ as small as possible.
[/guided]
[/step]
[step:Choose a transform with maximal imaginary part]
Let
\begin{align*}
\Lambda_z := \{cz+d : c,d \in \mathbb Z\} \subset \mathbb C.
\end{align*}
This is the lattice generated by $z$ and $1$. Since $\operatorname{Im}(z)>0$, the real-[linear map](/page/Linear%20Map)
\begin{align*}
A_z: \mathbb R^2 &\to \mathbb C \\
(u,v) &\mapsto uz+v
\end{align*}
is an isomorphism of real vector spaces, so $A_z(\mathbb Z^2)=\Lambda_z$ is a lattice and therefore a discrete subset of $\mathbb C$. In particular, $0$ is isolated in $\Lambda_z$ and every bounded disk in $\mathbb C$ contains only finitely many points of $\Lambda_z$: otherwise the inverse image under $A_z^{-1}$ would give infinitely many points of $\mathbb Z^2$ in a bounded subset of $\mathbb R^2$, which is impossible. Hence the set
\begin{align*}
\{|cz+d| : (c,d)\in \mathbb Z^2,\ (c,d)\neq (0,0)\}
\end{align*}
has a positive minimum, and that minimum is attained. Choose a pair $(c_0,d_0)\in \mathbb Z^2$ attaining this minimum. This pair is primitive: if $(c_0,d_0)=k(c_1,d_1)$ with $c_1,d_1,k\in\mathbb Z$ and $|k|>1$, then
\begin{align*}
|c_1z+d_1|=\frac{1}{|k|}|c_0z+d_0|<|c_0z+d_0|,
\end{align*}
contradicting minimality. Since $\gcd(c_0,d_0)=1$, [Bezout's identity](/page/Bezout%20Identity) gives $a_0,b_0\in \mathbb Z$ such that
\begin{align*}
a_0d_0-b_0c_0=1.
\end{align*}
Define
\begin{align*}
\gamma_0 := \begin{pmatrix}a_0&b_0\\c_0&d_0\end{pmatrix}\in SL_2(\mathbb Z).
\end{align*}
By the imaginary-part formula, $\operatorname{Im}(\gamma_0 z)$ is maximal among all $\operatorname{Im}(\gamma z)$ with $\gamma\in SL_2(\mathbb Z)$.
[guided]
We need a transform of $z$ that is as high as possible in the upper half-plane. By the formula already proved, this means we need to minimize $|cz+d|$ among admissible lower rows of matrices in $SL_2(\mathbb Z)$.
Define
\begin{align*}
\Lambda_z := \{cz+d : c,d \in \mathbb Z\} \subset \mathbb C.
\end{align*}
This is a lattice because it is the image of $\mathbb Z^2$ under the real-linear map
\begin{align*}
A_z: \mathbb R^2 &\to \mathbb C \\
(u,v) &\mapsto uz+v.
\end{align*}
The map $A_z$ is invertible over $\mathbb R$: if $uz+v=0$ with $u,v\in\mathbb R$, then taking imaginary parts gives $u\operatorname{Im}(z)=0$, hence $u=0$, and then $v=0$. Therefore $A_z(\mathbb Z^2)$ is a lattice and hence a discrete subset of $\mathbb C$. More explicitly, $0$ is isolated in $\Lambda_z$, and every bounded disk in $\mathbb C$ contains only finitely many points of $\Lambda_z$, because applying $A_z^{-1}$ would otherwise put infinitely many points of $\mathbb Z^2$ in a bounded subset of $\mathbb R^2$.
Because of this local finiteness, the nonzero lengths
\begin{align*}
\{|cz+d| : (c,d)\in \mathbb Z^2,\ (c,d)\neq (0,0)\}
\end{align*}
have a positive minimum, and the minimum is attained. Choose a pair $(c_0,d_0)$ attaining this minimum. This pair is primitive. Indeed, if $(c_0,d_0)=k(c_1,d_1)$ with $c_1,d_1,k\in\mathbb Z$ and $|k|>1$, then
\begin{align*}
|c_1z+d_1|=\frac{1}{|k|}|c_0z+d_0|<|c_0z+d_0|,
\end{align*}
which contradicts the choice of $(c_0,d_0)$ as a minimizer. Since $\gcd(c_0,d_0)=1$, [Bezout's identity](/page/Bezout%20Identity) gives integers $a_0,b_0\in\mathbb Z$ such that
\begin{align*}
a_0d_0-b_0c_0=1.
\end{align*}
Thus
\begin{align*}
\gamma_0 := \begin{pmatrix}a_0&b_0\\c_0&d_0\end{pmatrix}
\end{align*}
lies in $SL_2(\mathbb Z)$. For every $\gamma\in SL_2(\mathbb Z)$, its lower row $(c,d)$ is a nonzero integer pair, so
\begin{align*}
|c_0z+d_0|\le |cz+d|.
\end{align*}
Using
\begin{align*}
\operatorname{Im}(\gamma z)=\frac{\operatorname{Im}(z)}{|cz+d|^2},
\end{align*}
we conclude that $\operatorname{Im}(\gamma_0 z)$ is maximal among all modular transforms of $z$.
[/guided]
[/step]
[step:Translate the maximal transform into the standard strip]
Put $w_0:=\gamma_0 z$. Choose $n\in\mathbb Z$ such that
\begin{align*}
-\frac{1}{2}\le \operatorname{Re}(w_0)+n\le \frac{1}{2}.
\end{align*}
Define
\begin{align*}
w:=T^n w_0=w_0+n.
\end{align*}
Then $w$ is $SL_2(\mathbb Z)$-equivalent to $z$ and satisfies
\begin{align*}
-\frac{1}{2}\le \operatorname{Re}(w)\le \frac{1}{2}.
\end{align*}
Since $T^n$ has lower row $(0,1)$, the operation $w_0\mapsto w_0+n$ preserves imaginary part:
\begin{align*}
\operatorname{Im}(w)=\operatorname{Im}(w_0).
\end{align*}
Hence $w$ also has maximal imaginary part among all $SL_2(\mathbb Z)$-transforms of $z$.
[/step]
[step:Use maximality to force the unit circle inequality]
Suppose, for contradiction, that $|w|<1$. Since
\begin{align*}
S w=-\frac{1}{w},
\end{align*}
we have
\begin{align*}
\operatorname{Im}(Sw)
= \operatorname{Im}\left(-\frac{1}{w}\right)
= \frac{\operatorname{Im}(w)}{|w|^2}
> \operatorname{Im}(w).
\end{align*}
This contradicts the maximality of $\operatorname{Im}(w)$ among all $SL_2(\mathbb Z)$-transforms of $z$. Therefore $|w|\ge 1$. Together with the strip inequality, this gives $w\in\mathcal F$. Thus every point of $\mathbb H$ is $SL_2(\mathbb Z)$-equivalent to a point of $\mathcal F$.
[guided]
At this stage the point $w$ is already in the vertical strip. The only remaining condition for $w\in\mathcal F$ is $|w|\ge 1$. We prove this using the same maximization principle.
Assume that $|w|<1$. Applying
\begin{align*}
S=\begin{pmatrix}0&-1\\1&0\end{pmatrix}
\end{align*}
gives
\begin{align*}
S w=-\frac{1}{w}.
\end{align*}
Writing $w=u+iv$ with $v=\operatorname{Im}(w)>0$, we compute
\begin{align*}
-\frac{1}{w}
= -\frac{\overline w}{|w|^2}
= \frac{-u+iv}{|w|^2},
\end{align*}
so
\begin{align*}
\operatorname{Im}(Sw)=\frac{v}{|w|^2}
=\frac{\operatorname{Im}(w)}{|w|^2}.
\end{align*}
If $|w|<1$, then $|w|^2<1$, and therefore
\begin{align*}
\operatorname{Im}(Sw)>\operatorname{Im}(w).
\end{align*}
But $S\in SL_2(\mathbb Z)$, so $Sw$ is another $SL_2(\mathbb Z)$-transform of the original point $z$. This contradicts the choice of $w$ as a transform with maximal imaginary part. Hence $|w|\ge 1$, and therefore
\begin{align*}
w\in \{z\in\mathbb H: |z|\ge 1,\ -\tfrac12\le \operatorname{Re}(z)\le \tfrac12\}=\mathcal F.
\end{align*}
[/guided]
[/step]
[step:Prove that equivalent interior points are equal]
Let $z,w\in\operatorname{int}(\mathcal F)$ and suppose
\begin{align*}
w=\gamma z,\qquad \gamma=\begin{pmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{pmatrix}\in SL_2(\mathbb Z).
\end{align*}
Since $z,w\in\operatorname{int}(\mathcal F)$, we have
\begin{align*}
|z|>1,\qquad |\operatorname{Re}(z)|<\frac12,\qquad |w|>1,\qquad |\operatorname{Re}(w)|<\frac12.
\end{align*}
Apply the imaginary-part formula to $\gamma$ and to $\gamma^{-1}$:
\begin{align*}
\operatorname{Im}(w)=\frac{\operatorname{Im}(z)}{|cz+d|^2},
\qquad
\operatorname{Im}(z)=\frac{\operatorname{Im}(w)}{|-cw+a|^2}.
\end{align*}
Thus
\begin{align*}
|cz+d|\,|-cw+a|=1.
\end{align*}
We use the following estimate. If $\zeta=X+iY\in\mathcal F$, where $X:=\operatorname{Re}(\zeta)$ and $Y:=\operatorname{Im}(\zeta)$, and if $m,n\in\mathbb Z$ with $m\neq 0$, then
\begin{align*}
|m\zeta+n|^2
&=m^2|\zeta|^2+2mnX+n^2 \\
&\ge m^2+n^2-|mn|.
\end{align*}
Here we used $|\zeta|\ge 1$ and $|X|\le \tfrac12$. For nonnegative integers $M:=|m|$ and $N:=|n|$, the integer $M^2+N^2-MN$ is at least $1$ because $M\ge 1$. Thus $|m\zeta+n|\ge 1$. If $\zeta\in\operatorname{int}(\mathcal F)$, then the inequalities $|\zeta|>1$ and $|X|<\tfrac12$ make the same estimate strict, so $|m\zeta+n|>1$.
Apply this strict estimate first to $\zeta=z$ and $(m,n)=(c,d)$, and then to $\zeta=w$ and $(m,n)=(-c,a)$. If $c\neq 0$, then
\begin{align*}
|cz+d|>1,
\qquad
|-cw+a|>1,
\end{align*}
which contradicts $|cz+d|\,|-cw+a|=1$. Hence $c=0$.
With $c=0$, the determinant condition gives $ad=1$, so $a=d=\pm1$. The transformation becomes
\begin{align*}
w=\frac{az+b}{d}=z+\frac{b}{d}.
\end{align*}
Since $b/d\in\mathbb Z$ and both real parts lie in the open interval $(-\tfrac12,\tfrac12)$, the only possible integer translation is $b/d=0$. Therefore $w=z$.
[guided]
We now show that the interior of $\mathcal F$ contains exactly one representative from each orbit. Let
\begin{align*}
z,w\in\operatorname{int}(\mathcal F)
\end{align*}
and assume that
\begin{align*}
w=\gamma z,\qquad
\gamma=\begin{pmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{pmatrix}\in SL_2(\mathbb Z).
\end{align*}
Interior membership means that all defining inequalities are strict:
\begin{align*}
|z|>1,\qquad |\operatorname{Re}(z)|<\frac12,
\end{align*}
and the same inequalities hold for $w$.
The imaginary-part formula gives
\begin{align*}
\operatorname{Im}(w)=\frac{\operatorname{Im}(z)}{|cz+d|^2}.
\end{align*}
Applying the same formula to
\begin{align*}
\gamma^{-1}=\begin{pmatrix}d&-b\\-c&a\end{pmatrix}
\end{align*}
and the point $w$ gives
\begin{align*}
\operatorname{Im}(z)=\frac{\operatorname{Im}(w)}{|-cw+a|^2}.
\end{align*}
Multiplying these two identities yields
\begin{align*}
|cz+d|^2|-cw+a|^2=1.
\end{align*}
The geometry of the fundamental region is encoded in a direct estimate. Let $\zeta=X+iY\in\operatorname{int}(\mathcal F)$, where $X:=\operatorname{Re}(\zeta)$ and $Y:=\operatorname{Im}(\zeta)$, and let $m,n\in\mathbb Z$ with $m\neq 0$. Since $\zeta$ is in the interior of $\mathcal F$, we have
\begin{align*}
|\zeta|>1,
\qquad
|X|<\frac12.
\end{align*}
Compute
\begin{align*}
|m\zeta+n|^2
&=(mX+n)^2+m^2Y^2 \\
&=m^2(X^2+Y^2)+2mnX+n^2 \\
&=m^2|\zeta|^2+2mnX+n^2.
\end{align*}
The term $2mnX$ is bounded below by $-|mn|$ because $|X|<\tfrac12$, and the inequality is strict when $mn\neq 0$. Also $m^2|\zeta|^2>m^2$ because $m\neq 0$ and $|\zeta|>1$. Therefore
\begin{align*}
|m\zeta+n|^2>m^2+n^2-|mn|.
\end{align*}
Putting $M:=|m|\in\mathbb N$ and $N:=|n|\in\mathbb N\cup\{0\}$, the integer
\begin{align*}
M^2+N^2-MN
\end{align*}
is at least $1$: if $N=0$, it equals $M^2\ge 1$; if $N\ge 1$, then $M^2+N^2-MN=(M-N)^2+MN\ge 1$. Hence
\begin{align*}
|m\zeta+n|>1.
\end{align*}
This is the precise replacement for the informal picture of non-overlapping translated disks.
Apply the estimate with $\zeta=z$ and $(m,n)=(c,d)$. If $c\neq0$, then $|cz+d|>1$. Apply it again with $\zeta=w$ and $(m,n)=(-c,a)$. If $c\neq0$, then $|-cw+a|>1$. Their product would be greater than $1$, contradicting
\begin{align*}
|cz+d|\,|-cw+a|=1.
\end{align*}
Hence $c=0$.
When $c=0$, the determinant condition $ad-bc=1$ reduces to $ad=1$, so $a=d=1$ or $a=d=-1$. In both cases
\begin{align*}
w=\frac{az+b}{d}=z+\frac{b}{d},
\end{align*}
where $b/d\in\mathbb Z$. Since $\operatorname{Re}(z)$ and $\operatorname{Re}(w)$ both lie strictly between $-\tfrac12$ and $\tfrac12$, no nonzero integer translation can carry one to the other. Thus $b/d=0$, and consequently $w=z$.
[/guided]
[/step]
[step:Identify the boundary pairings]
The boundary of $\mathcal F$ consists of the vertical sides $\operatorname{Re}(z)=\pm\tfrac12$ with $|z|\ge 1$ and the circular arc $|z|=1$ with $-\tfrac12\le \operatorname{Re}(z)\le\tfrac12$. On the vertical sides, the map
\begin{align*}
T:\mathbb H&\to\mathbb H\\
z&\mapsto z+1
\end{align*}
sends the left side $\operatorname{Re}(z)=-\tfrac12$ to the right side $\operatorname{Re}(z)=\tfrac12$ and preserves imaginary part. Thus the two vertical sides are paired by $T$ and $T^{-1}$.
On the circular arc $|z|=1$ with $-\tfrac12\le \operatorname{Re}(z)\le \tfrac12$, the map
\begin{align*}
S:\mathbb H&\to\mathbb H\\
z&\mapsto -\frac1z
\end{align*}
satisfies, because $\overline z=1/z$ on $|z|=1$,
\begin{align*}
S z=-\overline z.
\end{align*}
Hence $S$ reflects the arc across the imaginary axis, pairing the two halves of the circular boundary and fixing $i$.
It remains to exclude any further boundary identifications. Let $z,w\in\mathcal F$ and suppose $w=\gamma z$ for
\begin{align*}
\gamma:=\begin{pmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{pmatrix}\in SL_2(\mathbb Z).
\end{align*}
As in the interior argument,
\begin{align*}
|cz+d|\,|-cw+a|=1.
\end{align*}
If $c=0$, then $ad=1$, so $a=d=1$ or $a=d=-1$, and the transformation is
\begin{align*}
w=z+\frac{b}{d},
\end{align*}
where $b/d\in\mathbb Z$. Since both real parts lie in the closed interval $[-\tfrac12,\tfrac12]$, the only possibilities are $b/d=0$, which gives $w=z$, or $b/d=1$ with $\operatorname{Re}(z)=-\tfrac12$ and $\operatorname{Re}(w)=\tfrac12$, or $b/d=-1$ with the two sides reversed. These are exactly the vertical side identifications generated by $T$.
Assume now that $c\neq0$. We use the equality cases in the estimate from the interior argument. Let $\zeta=X+iY\in\mathcal F$, where $X:=\operatorname{Re}(\zeta)$ and $Y:=\operatorname{Im}(\zeta)$, and let $m,n\in\mathbb Z$ with $m\neq0$. Put $M:=|m|\in\mathbb N$ and $N:=|n|\in\mathbb N\cup\{0\}$. Then
\begin{align*}
|m\zeta+n|^2
&=m^2|\zeta|^2+2mnX+n^2 \\
&\ge M^2+N^2-MN \\
&\ge 1.
\end{align*}
Equality holds only if all inequalities used here are equalities. Thus $|\zeta|=1$, and either $N=0$ with $M=1$, or $M=N=1$ with $X=-\operatorname{sgn}(mn)/2$. Consequently, if $|m\zeta+n|=1$, then either $(m,n)=(\pm1,0)$ and $\zeta$ lies on the circular arc, or $|m|=|n|=1$ and $\zeta$ is one of the two endpoints
\begin{align*}
\rho_+ := \frac12+\frac{\sqrt3}{2}i,
\qquad
\rho_- := -\frac12+\frac{\sqrt3}{2}i.
\end{align*}
Since $|cz+d|\ge1$ and $|-cw+a|\ge1$ while their product is $1$, both factors are equal to $1$. Applying the equality classification to $(\zeta,m,n)=(z,c,d)$ shows that either $d=0$ and $|c|=1$, or $z$ is an endpoint of the circular arc. Applying it to $(\zeta,m,n)=(w,-c,a)$ shows the same alternative for $a$ and $w$.
If $d=0$, then the determinant equation $ad-bc=1$ becomes $-bc=1$, so $|b|=|c|=1$. The associated fractional linear transformation is
\begin{align*}
\gamma z=\frac{az+b}{cz}=\frac{a}{c}+\frac{b}{cz}.
\end{align*}
Because $d=0$ and $|c|=1$, the equality case for $z$ gives $|z|=1$. Also $-bc=1$, so $b/c=-1$, and hence
\begin{align*}
\gamma z=\frac{a}{c}-\frac1z.
\end{align*}
For $\gamma z$ to lie in $\mathcal F$, the real part can remain in $[-\tfrac12,\tfrac12]$ only after the possible integer translation $a/c\in\mathbb Z$; equivalently, this identification is obtained from the circular pairing $S:z\mapsto -1/z$ followed, if necessary, by a vertical side translation generated by $T$. Thus it is generated by $S$ and $T$.
If $d\neq0$, the equality classification for $|cz+d|=1$ forces $|c|=|d|=1$ and forces $z$ to be an endpoint, with $\operatorname{Re}(z)=-\operatorname{sgn}(cd)/2$. Similarly, $|a|=|c|=1$ and $w$ is an endpoint. The endpoints are already identified by the adjacent boundary pairings: $S\rho_+=\rho_-$, $T\rho_- = \rho_+$, and the reversed identifications are generated by $S^{-1}=S$ and $T^{-1}$. Hence these endpoint cases introduce no generator beyond $S$ and $T$.
Therefore every identification among distinct boundary points of $\mathcal F$ is generated by the vertical side pairing $T$ and the circular arc pairing $S$. This completes the proof.
[guided]
We must prove two things about the boundary: first, that the announced maps really identify boundary points, and second, that no other identifications occur.
The vertical side pairing is direct. Define
\begin{align*}
T:\mathbb H&\to\mathbb H\\
z&\mapsto z+1.
\end{align*}
If $\operatorname{Re}(z)=-\tfrac12$, then $\operatorname{Re}(Tz)=\tfrac12$, and $\operatorname{Im}(Tz)=\operatorname{Im}(z)$. Hence $T$ pairs the left vertical side of $\mathcal F$ with the right vertical side, and $T^{-1}$ gives the reverse pairing.
The circular pairing is also explicit. Define
\begin{align*}
S:\mathbb H&\to\mathbb H\\
z&\mapsto -\frac1z.
\end{align*}
If $|z|=1$, then $1/z=\overline z$, so
\begin{align*}
S z=-\overline z.
\end{align*}
Thus $S$ reflects the circular arc across the imaginary axis. In particular it pairs the two halves of the arc and fixes the midpoint $i$.
Now suppose an arbitrary modular transformation identifies two points of $\mathcal F$. Let
\begin{align*}
z,w\in\mathcal F,
\qquad
w=\gamma z,
\qquad
\gamma:=\begin{pmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{pmatrix}\in SL_2(\mathbb Z).
\end{align*}
Applying the imaginary-part formula to $\gamma$ and to
\begin{align*}
\gamma^{-1}=\begin{pmatrix}d&-b\\-c&a\end{pmatrix}
\end{align*}
gives
\begin{align*}
\operatorname{Im}(w)=\frac{\operatorname{Im}(z)}{|cz+d|^2},
\qquad
\operatorname{Im}(z)=\frac{\operatorname{Im}(w)}{|-cw+a|^2}.
\end{align*}
Multiplying yields
\begin{align*}
|cz+d|\,|-cw+a|=1.
\end{align*}
This identity forces equality in the same estimate that proved interior uniqueness.
First consider $c=0$. Then $ad=1$, so $a=d=1$ or $a=d=-1$, and
\begin{align*}
w=z+\frac{b}{d}
\end{align*}
with $b/d\in\mathbb Z$. Since $\operatorname{Re}(z)$ and $\operatorname{Re}(w)$ both lie in $[-\tfrac12,\tfrac12]$, an integer translation can preserve membership in the strip only if it is $0$, $1$, or $-1$. Translation by $0$ gives the same point. Translation by $1$ sends the left side to the right side, and translation by $-1$ reverses that pairing. These are exactly the identifications generated by $T$.
It remains to handle $c\neq0$. We record the exact equality cases. Let $\zeta=X+iY\in\mathcal F$, with $X:=\operatorname{Re}(\zeta)$ and $Y:=\operatorname{Im}(\zeta)$, and let $m,n\in\mathbb Z$ with $m\neq0$. Put $M:=|m|\in\mathbb N$ and $N:=|n|\in\mathbb N\cup\{0\}$. Since $|\zeta|\ge1$ and $|X|\le\tfrac12$,
\begin{align*}
|m\zeta+n|^2
&=m^2|\zeta|^2+2mnX+n^2 \\
&\ge M^2+N^2-MN \\
&\ge 1.
\end{align*}
Equality is restrictive. It requires $|\zeta|=1$. It also requires equality in $2mnX\ge -|mn|$, so if $mn\neq0$ then $X=-\operatorname{sgn}(mn)/2$. Finally it requires $M^2+N^2-MN=1$. This last integer equation gives either $M=1,N=0$, or $M=N=1$. Therefore $|m\zeta+n|=1$ occurs only in two ways: either $(m,n)=(\pm1,0)$ and $\zeta$ lies on the circular arc, or $|m|=|n|=1$ and $\zeta$ is one of the two endpoints
\begin{align*}
\rho_+ := \frac12+\frac{\sqrt3}{2}i,
\qquad
\rho_- := -\frac12+\frac{\sqrt3}{2}i.
\end{align*}
Apply this to the two factors $|cz+d|$ and $|-cw+a|$. Since both factors are at least $1$ and their product is $1$, both must equal $1$. If $d=0$, then the determinant equation gives $-bc=1$, so $|b|=|c|=1$. The transformation has the form
\begin{align*}
\gamma z=\frac{az+b}{cz}=\frac{a}{c}+\frac{b}{cz}.
\end{align*}
Because $b/c=-1$, this becomes
\begin{align*}
\gamma z=\frac{a}{c}-\frac1z.
\end{align*}
The term $z\mapsto -1/z$ is exactly the circular pairing $S$, and $a/c\in\mathbb Z$ is an integer translation, hence a power of $T$. Thus this case is generated by $S$ and $T$.
If $d\neq0$, the equality case for $|cz+d|=1$ forces $|c|=|d|=1$ and forces $z$ to be an endpoint of the circular arc. The equality case for $|-cw+a|=1$ similarly forces $w$ to be an endpoint. But the endpoints are already related by the adjacent side and arc pairings:
\begin{align*}
S\rho_+=\rho_-,
\qquad
T\rho_- = \rho_+.
\end{align*}
The reverse identifications are generated by $S^{-1}=S$ and $T^{-1}$. Therefore endpoint identifications introduce no generator beyond $S$ and $T$.
Combining the $c=0$ and $c\neq0$ cases, every boundary identification among distinct points of $\mathcal F$ is generated by the vertical side pairing $T$ and the circular arc pairing $S$.
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