Questions tagged [geometric-group-theory]
Large scale properties of groups; growth functions; Dehn functions; small cancellation properties; hyperbolicity and CAT(0); actions and representations; combinatorial group theory; presentations
327 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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Description of quasimorphisms of the free group
Let $F$ be a free group of finite rank with a fixed basis and corresponding word metric. Let $Q = Q^0_h(F, \mathbb{R})$ be the space of real homogenous quasimorphisms that vanish on the basis of $F$. ...
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Finitely generated nilpotent groups as cusp groups
I recently learned about the following question, asked by I. Kapovich :
Is there an example of a group $G$ which is hyperbolic relative to some parabolic subgroups that are nilpotent of class $\geq 3$...
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Uniform versus non-uniform group stability
Group stability considers the question of whether "almost"-homomorphisms are "close to" true homomorphisms. Here, "almost" and "close to" are made rigorous using a group metric.
More precisely, ...
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Non-algebraic quasi-isometric embeddings
What are examples of finitely generated groups $\Gamma$ and $\Lambda$ such that the metric space $\Lambda$ embeds into $\Gamma$ quasi-isometrically but such that $\Lambda$ is very much not a subgroup ...
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Automorphism groups of cocompact Fuchsian groups as mapping class groups
Let $\Gamma$ be a cocompact Fuchsian group. So it has presentation $$\langle x_1,y_1, \dots, x_g,y_g,z_1, \ldots, z_r \mid [x_1,y_1] \cdots [x_g,y_g]z_1 \cdots z_r=1, \ z_i^{m_i}=1 \rangle$$
for some $...
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Uniqueness of the boundary of a hierarchically hyperbolic group
Hierarchically hyperbolic groups and spaces (HHG and HHS for short) were defined by Behrstock, Hagen and Sisto (see here and here). Examples include mapping class groups, Right angled Artin groups, ...
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The preimage of bounded real intervals under homomorphisms on hyperbolic groups
Let $G$ be a hyperbolic group with a fixed (finite, symmetric) generating set and suppose that $\varphi : G \to \mathbb{R}$ is a group homomorphism. Write $W_n = \{ g \in G: |g|=n\}$, where $|g|$ ...
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Computing centralizers of finite sets in right angled Artin groups (RAAGs) / partially commutative groups / graph groups
This question concerns right angled Artin groups (RAAGs), also called partially commutative groups or graph groups.
A student of mine, Adi Ben-Zvi, needs for an algorithm in RAAGs, a subalgorithm ...
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Filling points to a simplex in models for EG
I have a question which is related to higher Dehn functions of groups.
I also have a group $G$ with a finite $K(G,1)$. Let us denote by $EG$ the universal cover of this complex. We choose a path-...
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Coarsely Lipschitz retractions onto cyclic subgroups
A good way to show that a subspace is undistorted is to give a coarse Lipschitz retraction of the whole space onto that subspace. This question is about a failure of the converse.
Let $G$ be a ...
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Chains of right annihilators in group rings
See the update below
This problem emanates from a question on not-so-simple random walks on finitely generated groups. But to explain the connections would require an extremely long essay.
Let $G$ be ...
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Relation between point pushing pseudo-Anosov map and the minimum length
Let $S$ be a closed hyperbolic surface. Suppose $Mod(S)$ denotes the mapping class groups and $T(F)$ denotes the Teichmüller space.
By Birman exact sequence we get the point pushing map $Push:\pi_1(S,...
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In the literature on infinite graphs, are there results on "periodizable" graphs?
Let $G=(V,E)$ be a connected countably infinite $k$-regular simple graph (no loops or multiple edges). For $A$ a finite subset of $V$, let me denote by $G_A=(A,E_A)$ the induced subgraph with vertex ...
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Visual boundary vs. ideal boundary of hyperbolic manifolds?
I apologize in advance if this is elementary; I have very little experience with hyperbolic manifolds, but I'm using hyperbolic manifolds for part of a current project.
Given a discrete torsion-free ...
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A problem on automatic groups and geodesic paths on the Cayley graph
Let $\Gamma = \langle S \mid R \rangle$ be a finitely generated group, with the neutral element $e \not \in S= S^{-1}$.
Let $\ell : \Gamma \to \mathbb{N}$ be the world length related to $S$.
For ...
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Historical perspectives on CAT(0) spaces
Does there exist a survey on the early developments of CAT(k) spaces, with the first motivations and the first problems considered? I looked at Bridson and Haefliger's book On metric spaces of non-...
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Groups with infinitely many finite conjugacy classes
I've been coming across the condition "IMFCC: having infinitely many finite conjugacy classes" often in recent times and I was wondering if there is any serious difference between having "IMFCC" and ...
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Mal'cev completions of finitely generated torsion-free nilpotent groups
There is some question from geometric group theory:
One wonders if the following conditions are equivalent for finitely generated torsion-free nilpotent groups $\Gamma$ and $\Lambda$:
$\Gamma$ and $\...
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Quotients of an extension of the Higman group
(Note: this started as a different question that soon changed form, thanks to the answers.)
Let $G = \mathbb{Z}/4\mathbb{Z} \ltimes H_4$, where $H_4$ is the Higman group and $\mathbb{Z}/4\mathbb{Z}$ ...
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Profinite groups, completions, and Schreier's formula
Let $G$ be a finitely generated profinite group, and $H \leq_o G$. We say that $H$ satisfies Schreier's formula in $G$ if $d(H) - 1 = (d(G)-1)[G:H]$. We say that $G$ satisfies Schreier's formula if ...
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L_2-Betti numbers of random groups
Are there any results in calculating $l_2$-Betti numbers of random groups in the Gromov density model?
I can deduce myself a few facts:
If a group has Property (T) then the first $l_2$-Betti number ...
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Regularity of polynomial growth of groups
Let $G$ be a finitely generated group of polynomial growth. This means that the size $B_n$ of the ball of radius $n$ satsifies:
$$
A n^d \leq B_n \leq Bn^d
$$
for some constants $A$, $B$.
My question ...
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Can one characterize amenable groups with $C_G(x)$ cyclic for all $x\neq 1$?
Can one characterize the amenable groups that have the property that the centralizer of every non-identity element is cyclic?
For example, must they be solvable?
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Any method to detect subgroup generated by a subset of the generators from its presentation
I have met the following problem. A group $G$ is given as follows
$G = \langle x,y,t| y^{-2}xy^2 = x,t^{-1}yt =y^2 ,t^{-1}xt = xy^{-1}xy\rangle$
Is the subgroup generated by $y$ and $t$ just the ...
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Additive characters from coarse quotient maps
Let's consider a (finitely generated) group $\Gamma$ and a
coarse quotient map
$q\colon\Gamma\to\mathbb{R}$.
I'm interested in the 1-cocycle
$\sigma\colon\Gamma\to\ell_\infty\Gamma$,
defined by $\...
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On the induction step in Theorem 2.6 of "Homological stability for linear groups" by Kallen
I am currently reading the proof of the connectivity theorem of Wilberd van der Kallen (Theorem 2.6 in https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01390018) for a seminar talk. I am a little stuck on ...
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A question about Gromov's proof of a "more effective version of the main theorem"
In the paper "Groups of polynomial growth and expanding maps" Gromov proves the following "effective version of the main theorem"
For any positive integers $d$ and $k$, there ...
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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 ...
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Examples of Lattices of Sp(n,1)
$Sp(n,1)$ is the isometry group of $n$-dimensional quaternionic hyperbolic space. It is written in literature that the group is an example of a hyperbolic groups. Can you suggest me any reference ...
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A variation of Zuk's isoperimetric inequality for groups
$\DeclareMathOperator\diam{diam}\DeclareMathOperator\inrad{inrad}$There is a isoperimetric inequality (conjectured by Sikorav and proven by Żuk (Topology 39 (2000) 947–956) which holds in every Cayley ...
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Counting the number of free bases of $F_n$ with elements of bounded length
Let $F$ be a free group of finite rank and fix a free generating set $X$ of $F$. Let $P_r$ denote the set of all free generating sets of $F$ whose elements have length bounded by $r$ (when considered ...
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Does there exist a finitely generated, torsion group $G$ with a residually finite ascending HNN extension?
I've copied over this question from what I asked on Mathematics Stack Exchange, in the hope that some experts here can provide me some insight.
Let $G$ be a group with an injective endomorphism $\phi$...
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Type $F_n$ and quasi-isometry with highly connected space
Recall that a group is of type $F_n$ if it has a classifying space with finite $n$-skeleton. For example type $F_1$ means finitely generated, and type $F_2$ means finitely presented.
Question: For a ...
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Distortion in the Brin-Thompson 2V
Is it known whether the Brin-Thompson 2V contains a distortion element? By this I mean an element $f$ such that the word norm $|f^n|$
grows sublinearly, and $f$ is of infinite order. If such an ...
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Convex core and geometric finiteness of negatively curved manifolds
I am reading a paper on hyperbolic geometry where they are using the concept of "convex core" in the context of "geometric finiteness". Roughly, this means (from Definition F4 of a ...
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Ends of a negatively curved Riemannian manifold
Let $M$ be a complete Riemannian manifold. Let us use the standard definition of "end", for example, as in this article. If $M$ has non-negative Ricci curvature, it is well-known that it has ...
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Normal subgroups of non-co-hopfian groups (example)
We call a group $G$ a non-co-hopfian group, if $G$ admits a non-isomorphic injective group homomorphism from $G$ to itself $i\colon G\hookrightarrow G$.
Consider a finitely presented non-co-hopfian ...
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Polynomial invariants of infinite reflection groups
It is a famous theorem of Shepard-Todd that the ring of invariant polynomials of a finite complex reflection group $W$ acting on a complex vector space $V$ is actually itself a polynomial ring. In ...
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Graphs with high girth and low diameter
As the title says, I'm interested in graphs with high girth and low diameter.
Given a class $\Gamma$ of finite $k$-regular graphs, call a $\Gamma$-graph GD-extremal if every $\Gamma$-graph either has ...
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Sufficient conditions for the Besicovitch covering theorem to hold on groups of polynomial growth
Let $G$ be a finitely generated group with symmetric generating set $S$. Then $S$ induces a distance $d$ on $G$ by letting $d(a,b) = $ the minimum $n$ such that there are generators $s_1,...,s_n$ with ...
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Examples of nonlinear residually finite hyperbolic groups
What are some examples of nonlinear residually finite hyperbolic groups?
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Ping pong with parabolic isometries on Gromov hyperbolic spaces
For a group $G$ with a non-elementary general type action by isometries on a Gromov hyperbolic geodesic space $(X,d)$, it is well known that you can construct free subgroups of $G$ via the ping pong ...
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When is the submonoid preserving a subspace finitely generated?
Let $T$ be a topological space with at least one open set whose closure is not open.
Let $G$ be a finitely generated group acting by homeomorphisms on $T$. Let $S\subset T$ be a subspace.
Under what ...
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Thompson's group F and algebraic links
There is a procedure, suggested by Vaughan Jones, which associates a link to every element of Thompson's group F. Also every knot or link in $\mathbb{R}^3$ can be obtained in this way. A subclass of ...
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An analogue of the Milnor-Švarc lemma for Busemann boundaries
The Milnor-Švarc lemma, is, without doubt, regarded as one of the most important statements in geometric group theory. (Edit) One of the corollaries of this lemma says that if a hyperbolic group $G$ ...
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A pair of non-free groups, each of which is isomorphic to the free product of itself with a free group. Are they isomorphic?
This is a follow-up question to Is there a non-free group $G$ whose subgroups are all freely decomposable?
In the answer to that question, Cornulier gives the following example (due to Kurosh) of a ...
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clarification on the proof of Bestvina-Mess formula
I am studying Bestvina and Mess's results on the boundary of hyperbolic groups [The Boundary of Negatively Curved Groups.
Journal of the American Mathematical Society
Vol. 4, No. 3 (Jul., 1991), pp. ...
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Image of the mapping class group of surfaces into automorphism group?
Let $S_{g,p}^n$ be a compact oriented surface of genus $g$ with $p$ punctures and $n$ boundary components, and $\operatorname{Mod}(S)$ and $\operatorname{PMod}(S)$ be the mapping class group and the ...
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Commutator algorithm
Let $M \in \mathrm{SL}(2, \mathbb{Z}).$ Is there an efficient algorithm to write $M$ as a commutator (group commutator, not algebra commutator) [or fail if this is impossible]?
Addendum: answering ...
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Abelian-by-cyclic subgroups of exponential growth solvable groups
I am currently looking for a reference to a proof (or counterexample) to the following statement:
Statement: Assume $G$ is a finitely generated solvable group of exponential growth, then there is a ...
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