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Peter Linnell

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Linnell.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2016

On the center-valued Atiyah conjecture for L2-Betti numbers

The so-called Atiyah conjecture states that the von Neumann dimensions of the L2-homology modules of free G-CW-complexes belong to a certain set of rational numbers, depending on the finite subgroups of G. In this article we extend this conjecture to a statement for the center-valued dimensions. We show that the conjecture is equivalent to a precise description of the tructure as a semisimple Artinian ring of the division closure D(QG) of Q[G] in the ring of affiliated operators. We prove the conjecture for all groups in Linnell's class C, containing in particular free-by-elementary amenable groups. The center-valued Atiyah conjecture states that the center-valued L2-Betti numbers of finite free G-CW-complexes are contained in a certain discrete subset of the center of C[G], the one generated as an additive group by the center-valued traces of all projections in C[H], where H runs through the finite subgroups of G. Finally, we use the approximation theorem of Knebusch for the center-valued $L^2$-Betti numbers to extend the result to many groups which are residually in C, in particular for finite extensions of products of free groups and of pure braid groups.

math.RA↗
arXiv2016

Localization, Whitehead groups, and the Atiyah Conjecture

Let Wh^w(G) be the K_1-group of square matrices over the integral group ring ZG which are not necessarily invertible but induce weak isomorphisms after passing to Hilbert space completions. Let D(G) be the division closure of ZG in the algebra U(G) of operators affiliated to the group von Neumann algebra. Let C be the smallest class of groups which contains all free groups and is closed under directed unions and extensions with elementary amenable quotients. Let G be a torsionfree group which belongs to C. Then we prove that Wh^w(G) is isomorphic to K_1(D(G)). Furthermore we show that D(G) is a skew field and henc K_1(\D(G)) is the abelianization of the multiplicative group of units in D(G).

math.KT↗
arXiv2013

Amenable groups with a locally invariant order are locally indicable

We show that every amenable group with a locally invariant partial order has a left-invariant total order (and is therefore locally indicable). We also show that if a group G admits a left-invariant total order, and H is a locally nilpotent subgroup of G, then a left-invariant total order on G can be chosen so that its restriction to H is both left-invariant and right-invariant. Both results follow from recurrence properties of the action of G on its binary relations.

math.GR↗
arXiv2013

On the growth of Betti numbers in $p$-adic analytic towers

We study the asymptotic growth of Betti numbers in tower of finite covers and provide simple proofs of approximation results, which were previously obtained by Calegari-Emerton, in the generality of arbitrary p-adic analytic towers of covers. Further, we also obtain partial results about arbitrary pro-$p$ towers.

math.GT↗
arXiv2011

Approximating L2-invariants, and the Atiyah conjecture

Let G be a torsion free discrete group and let \bar{Q} denote the field of algebraic numbers in C. We prove that \bar{Q}[G] fulfills the Atiyah conjecture if G lies in a certain class of groups D, which contains in particular all groups which are residually torsion free elementary amenable or which are residually free. This result implies that there are no non-trivial zero-divisors in C[G]. The statement relies on new approximation results for L2-Betti numbers over \bar{Q}[G], which are the core of the work done in this paper. Another set of results in the paper is concerned with certain number theoretic properties of eigenvalues for the combinatorial Laplacian on L2-cochains on any normal covering space of a finite CW complex. We establish the absence of eigenvalues that are transcendental numbers, whenever the covering transformation group is either amenable or in the Linnell class \mathcal{C}. We also establish the absence of eigenvalues that are Liouville transcendental numbers whenever the covering transformation group is either residually finite or more generally in a certain large bootstrap class \mathcal{G}. Please take the errata to Schick: "L2-determinant class and approximation of L2-Betti numbers" into account, which are added at the end of the file, rectifying some unproved statements about "amenable extension". As a consequence, throughout, amenable extensions should be extensions with normal subgroups.

math.GT↗
arXiv2007

The Atiyah conjecture and Artinian rings

Let G be a group such that its finite subgroups have bounded order, let d denote the lowest common multiple of the orders of the finite subgroups of G, and let K be a subfield of C that is closed under complex conjugation. Let U(G) denote the algebra of unbounded operators affiliated to the group von Neumann algebra N(G), and let D(KG,U(G)) denote the division closure of KG in U(G); thus D(KG,U(G)) is the smallest subring of U(G) containing KG that is closed under taking inverses. Suppose n is a positive integer, and α\in \Mat_n(KG). Then αinduces a bounded linear map α: l^2(G)^n \to ł^2(G)^n, and \kerαhas a well-defined von Neumann dimension \dim_{N(G)} (\kerα). This is a nonnegative real number, and one version of the Atiyah conjecture states that d \dim_{N(G)}(\kerα) \in Z. Assuming this conjecture, we shall prove that if G has no nontrivial finite normal subgroup, then D(KG,U(G)) is a d \times d matrix ring over a skew field. We shall also consider the case when G has a nontrivial finite normal subgroup, and other subrings of U(G) that contain KG.

math.RA↗
arXiv2007

Galois cohomology of completed link groups

In this paper we compute the Galois cohomology of the pro-p completion of primitive link groups. Here, a primitive link group is the fundamental group of a tame link in the 3-sphere whose linking number diagram is irreducible modulo p (e.g. none of the linking numbers is divisible by p). The result is that (with Z/pZ-coefficients) the Galois cohomology is naturally isomorphic to the Z/pZ-cohomology of the discrete link group. The main application of this result is that for such groups the Baum-Connes conjecture or the Atiyah conjecture are true for every finite extension (or even every elementary amenable extension), if they are true for the group itself.

math.GR↗
arXiv2007

Finite group extensions and the Atiyah conjecture

The Atiyah conjecture for a discrete group G states that the $L^2$-Betti numbers of a finite CW-complex with fundamental group G are integers if G is torsion-free and are rational with denominators determined by the finite subgroups of G in general. Here we establish conditions under which the Atiyah conjecture for a group G implies the Atiyah conjecture for every finite extension of G. The most important requirement is that the cohomology $H^*(G,\mathbb{Z}/p)$ is isomorphic to the cohomology of the p-adic completion of G for every prime p. An additional assumption is necessary, e.g. that the quotients of the lower central series or of the derived series are torsion-free. We prove that these conditions are fulfilled for a class of groups which contains Artin's pure braid groups, free groups, surfaces groups, certain link groups and one-relator groups. Therefore every finite, in fact every elementary amenable extension of these groups satisfies the Atiyah conjecture. In the course of the proof we prove that if these extensions are torsion-free, then they have plenty of non-trivial torsion-free quotients which are virtually nilpotent. All of this applies in particular to Artin's full braid group, therefore answering question B6 on http://www.grouptheory.info . Our methods also apply to the Baum-Connes conjecture. This is discussed in arXiv:math/0209165 "Finite group extensions and the Baum-Connes conjecture", where the Baum-Connes conjecture is proved e.g. for the full braid group.

math.GR↗
arXiv2004

Groups of small homological dimension and the Atiyah Conjecture

A group G has homological dimension less or equal to 1 if it is locally free. We prove the converse provided that G satisfies the Atiyah Conjecture about L^2-Betti numbers. We also show that a finitely generated elementary amenable group G of cohomological dimension less or equal to 2 possesses a finite 2-dimensional model for BG and in particular that G is finitely presented and the trivial ZG-module Z has a 2-dimensional resolution by finitely generated free ZG-modules.

math.GR↗
arXiv2003

The Ore condition, affiliated operators, and the lamplighter group

Let G be the wreath product of Z and Z/2, the so called lamplighter group and k a commutative ring. We show that kG does not have a classical ring of quotients (i.e. does not satisfy the Ore condition). This answers a Kourovka notebook problem. Assume that kG is contained in a ring R in which the element 1-x is invertible, with x a generator of Z considered as subset of G. Then R is not flat over kG. If k is the field of complex numbers, this applies in particular to the algebra UG of unbounded operators affiliated to the group von Neumann algebra of G. We present two proofs of these results. The second one is due to Warren Dicks, who, having seen our argument, found a much simpler and more elementary proof, which at the same time yielded a more general result than we had originally proved. Nevertheless, we present both proofs here, in the hope that the original arguments might be of use in some other context not yet known to us.

math.RA↗
arXiv2003

Whitehead groups and the Bass conjecture

This paper will be concerned with proving that certain Whitehead groups of torsion-free elementary amenable groups are torsion groups and related results, and then applying these results to the Bass conjecture. In particular we shall establish the strong Bass conjecture for an arbitrary elementary amenable group.

math.KT↗
arXiv2002

K-theory of Solvable Groups

We first prove that the Whitehead group of a torsion-free virtually solvable linear group vanishes. Next we make a reduction of the fibered isomorphism conjecture from virtually solvable groups to a class of virtually solvable Q-linear groups. Finally we prove an L-theory analogue for elementary amenable groups.

math.KT↗