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4 votes
0 answers
453 views

Problem 1.8 from Kirby's list

Context I looked through a book called "Problems in Low-Dimensional Topology", where Rob Kirby lists a set of problems. He provides a list of problems, states their conjectures, and ...
13 votes
3 answers
2k views

Which groups are LERF?

A finitely generated group $G$ is called LERF if every finitely generated $H \leq G$ is closed in the profinite topology on $G$ (equivalently, there is a family of finite index subgroups of $G$ ...
3 votes
0 answers
115 views

Finite homology of a homogeneous space

Let $\Gamma$ be a cocompact lattice in $\operatorname{SL}(2,\mathbb R)$ and $X=\operatorname{SL}(2,\mathbb R)/\Gamma$ be the underlying homogeneous space. Can the homology group $H_1(X,\mathbb Z)$ be ...
5 votes
1 answer
512 views

What are the cohomological dimensions of ${\rm Aut}(F_n)$, ${\rm Out}(F_n)$, ${\rm SL}_n(\mathbb{Z})$ over the rationals ℚ and integers ℤ?

$\DeclareMathOperator\Aut{Aut}\DeclareMathOperator\Out{Out}\DeclareMathOperator{\cd}{cd}\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}$For a group $G$, the cohomological dimension of $G$ over the ring $R$, denoted by $\...
10 votes
4 answers
2k views

Proving that a countable group is not finitely generated

I would like to learn about techniques for proving that a countable group is not finitely generated. I am also interested in learning about examples. Finally, I am particularly, but not exclusively, ...
3 votes
0 answers
393 views

What about a Cayley n-complex for n>2?

Let $G$ be a finitely presented group. The Cayley graph of the finite generating set is a $1$-complex where the $0$-cells are the elements of $G$ and the $1$-cells are given by the generators (...
3 votes
0 answers
128 views

Salvetti complexes and cohomology of affine completion of Artin groups $E_6$ and $E_7$

After the solution of the Brieskorn-Arnold Pham conjecture on the asphericity of a space for affine Artin groups by Paolini and Salvetti MR4243019 (arXiv), I would like to know if there are ...
8 votes
2 answers
507 views

Contractible Rips complex from non-hyperbolic group

I heard that the Rips complexes associated to the Cayley graphs of hyperbolic groups are contractible for a sufficiently large radius. Is the converse true? Namely, if a group is non-hyperbolic, then ...
6 votes
1 answer
658 views

Generalized Birman exact sequence for surfaces with boundaries

Let $S_g^n$ be a surface of genus g with n boundaries and let $Mod(S_g^n)$ be its mapping class group. We will also denote by $S_{g,m}^n$ a surface of genus g with n boundaries and m punctures. The ...
5 votes
1 answer
336 views

"Simplicial complex" product of groups?

Let $X=(V,E)$ be a graph, and to each vertex $v \in V$, associate a group $G_v$. The graph product of the groups $G_v$ (as defined e.g. here) is $F/R$; the quotient of the free product of the $G_v$ by ...
1 vote
0 answers
113 views

Question on models for $EG$ for a $G$-CW complex

I am having trouble finding information on a definition in P. Hanham's PhD thesis paper. recall that given a discrete group $G$ a $G$-CW-complex $X$ is a CW-complex equipped with a topological $G$ ...
5 votes
0 answers
140 views

Reference request: Name or use of this group of diffeomorphisms of the disc

Let $k \in \{0,\infty\}$, $G\subseteq \operatorname{Diff}^k(D^n)$ be the set of diffeomorphisms $\phi:D^n\to D^n$ of the closed $n$-disc $D^n$ (with its boundary) satisfying the following: $ \phi(S_r^...
13 votes
1 answer
289 views

Powers of the Euler class, torsion free subgroup of Homeo($S^1$)

For any subgroup $G$ of $\text{Homeo}(S^1)$, we have the Euler class $\chi$ in the group cohomology $H^2(G;\mathbb{Z})$. One can think of this class as the pullback of the generator of $H^2(\mathrm{B}\...
24 votes
1 answer
968 views

Groups whose finite index subgroups of fixed index are isomorphic

I am interested in finitely generated groups $G$ that are residually finite and have the following property: For each $d \geq 1$, $G$ has subgroups of finite index $d$, and all such subgroups are ...
4 votes
1 answer
365 views

Topological interpretation for groups of type $FP_2$

A group $G$ is of type $FP_2$ if it admits a partial projective resolution of $\mathbb{Z}G$-modules $$ P_2 \rightarrow P_1 \rightarrow P_0 \rightarrow \mathbb{Z} \rightarrow 0$$ with each $P_i$ being ...
6 votes
1 answer
406 views

Connection between Stalling's end theorem and Seifert-van Kampen Theorem

Stalling`s end Theorem (a group has more than one end iff it splits over a finite subgroup) and the Seifert-van Kampen Theorem (the fundamental group of a 'decomposable' space is a free amalgamated ...
32 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is the Hurewicz theorem ever used to compute abelianizations?

The Hurewicz theorem tells us that if $X$ is a path-connected space then $H_1(X, \, \mathbb{Z})$ is isomorphic to the abelianisation of $\pi_1(X)$. This gives a potential method for computing the ...
3 votes
1 answer
267 views

In what sense is every element of $H_2(G)$ "represented by a free action on some surface"

(This is a cross-post of this unanswered math.stackexchange question) In Edmond's 1982 paper Surface Symmetry II, at the bottom of page 145, he writes: "Corollary - If $G$ is a split nonabelian ...
3 votes
1 answer
432 views

Relation between conjugacy class, quotient isomorphism class, and signature of Fuchsian groups

Let $\Gamma\le SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ be a finite index subgroup, not necessarily "congruence". Let $c_4,c_6$ be the number of conjugacy classes of elements of order 4 and 6 respectively, let $c_{-1}$ be ...
13 votes
1 answer
218 views

The finiteness criterium $F$ under quasi-isometry

A group $G$ is defined to have $F$ if there exists a finite $K(G,1)$. This property is clearly not invariant under quasi-isometry as one can see from the trivial group and $\mathbb{Z}_2$. My question:...
5 votes
2 answers
666 views

HNN extensions which are free products

which HNN-extensions are free products? this question is related with another still unsolved about Nielsen-Thruston-reducibility and connected-sum-irreducibility of 3d-torus- bundles...
3 votes
0 answers
421 views

Marshall Hall's theorem for surface groups [closed]

Let $\Gamma_g$ be a surface group of genus $g \geq 2$, that is we have a presentation: $$\Gamma_g = \langle x_1,y_1 \dots, x_g,y_g \vert \prod_{i = 1}^g [x_i,y_i] = 1\rangle$$ Let $H \leq \Gamma_g$ ...
4 votes
2 answers
337 views

A Karrass-Solitar theorem for surface groups

Let $\Gamma_g$ be a surface group of genus $g \geq 2$. That is, there is a presentation $$\Gamma_g = \langle x_1, y_1, \dots, x_g, y_g \vert \prod_{i = 1}^{g}[x_i,y_i] = 1\rangle$$ Is there a ...
5 votes
1 answer
264 views

Bases of surface groups

Let $\Gamma_g$ be a surface group of genus $g \geq 2$. A $2g$-tuple $(x_1,y_1, \dots,x_g,y_g) \in \Gamma_g^{2g}$ will be called a Surface Basis if we have the presentation $$\Gamma_g = \langle x_1, ...
15 votes
1 answer
640 views

Torsion-free group that is not of type F but is virtually of type F

Recall that a group $G$ is of type F if there exists a compact $K(G,1)$. There are many examples of groups which are not of type F but which are virtually of type F, that is, they have finite-index ...
10 votes
2 answers
890 views

Are virtual cubulated groups cubulated?

Suppose $G$ has a finite index subgroup $N$ such that $N$ acts properly and cocompactly on a CAT(0)-cube complex. Does $G$ also act properly and cocompactly on a CAT(0)-cube complex? Edit: After ...
10 votes
1 answer
580 views

Nonhyperbolic groups that contain no free abelian groups or Baumslag-Solitar groups

I've heard it conjectured that a finitely presentable group $G$ is hyperbolic if it satisfies the following two conditions. $G$ contains no subgroup isomorphic to a Baumslag-Solitar group $BS(n,m)$ (...
10 votes
0 answers
458 views

is a group $G$, that admits finite $k(G, 1)$ and has no Baumslag-Solitar subgroups, necessarily hyperbolic?

This is the first question asked in Bestvina's article "Questions in Geometric Group Theory". Does anyone know if there has been any progress made on this problem? Is the question answered if $G$ is ...
17 votes
3 answers
1k views

The second homotopy group of a simple CW-complex

Let $X$ be a CW-complex with one 0-cell two 1-cells three 2-cells no cells in dimensions 3 or higher. Is it always true that $\pi_2(X)\ne 1$?
8 votes
2 answers
596 views

Infinite loop space maps into or out of BAut(F_n)

There is an inclusion $S_n \to Aut(F_n)$ from the symmetric group into the automorphism group of a free group. After applying the Quillen +-constriction, both $BS_{\infty}$ and $BF_{\infty}$ become ...
7 votes
2 answers
537 views

Residually finite + torsion free + finite index = finite complex?

Suppose $G$ is a residually-finite group and $H < G$ a torsion-free subgroup of finite index. What characterizes such $G$ such that $BH$ is homotopic to a finite complex? I believe Serre showed ...