Abstract/Summary

This paper has two objectives. First, we study lattices with skew-Hermitian forms over division algebras with positive involutions. For division algebras of Albert types I and II, we show that such a lattice contains an “orthogonal” basis for a sublattice of effectively bounded index. Second, we apply this result to obtain new results in the field of unlikely intersections. More specifically, we prove the Zilber–Pink conjecture for the intersection of curves with special subvarieties of simple PEL type I and II under a large Galois orbits conjecture. We also prove this Galois orbits conjecture for certain cases of type II.