 Integer determinant and sublattice index

For a square integer matrix $A$ with nonzero determinant, the image $A{\mathbb{Z}}^n$ is a subgroup of the integer lattice. Its index of a subgroup isIn particular, $A=\mathrm{diag}(2,1)$ gives all points with even first coordinate. The quotient has two cosets, represented by $(0,0)$ and $(1,0)$, and the fundamental cell has area two. A determinant of two therefore counts how much integer information is missing from the image.

The integrality hypothesis is essential. The rational matrix $R=\mathrm{diag}(2,1/2)$ has determinant one but sends $(0,1)$ to $(0,1/2)$. Its generated Euclidean lattice has the same covolume as ${\mathbb{Z}}^2$ without being the same integer lattice. The unimodular matrix criterion combines an arithmetic condition with a geometric one.

A short proof of the index formula uses Smith normal form. Write $PAQ=\mathrm{diag}(d_1,\dots ,d_n)$, with $P,Q$ unimodular matrices and positive integers $d_i$. They preserve the relevant integer structure, so the quotient has the same size as ${\prod }_i\mathbb{Z}/d_i\mathbb{Z}$, namely ${\prod }_i{d}_i=|\det A|$. No assumption that the matrix is orthogonal or its basis vectors are short is needed.