arXiv subjects

Raz Slutsky

Publications and source records attributed to Raz Slutsky.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Sparse Random Covers and Growth of Torsion in First Homology

We construct random open covers of higher-rank locally symmetric spaces using a construction we call scaffolded Poisson processes. Let $X=G/K$ be a symmetric space of noncompact type and real rank at least $2$. We prove a general vanishing theorem for the normalized torsion in first homology along sequences of torsion-free lattices in $G$. In particular, if $G$ is simple, we get \[ \dfrac{\log |H_1(M_n;\mathbb{Z})_{\operatorname{tors}}|}{\mathrm{vol}(M_n)} \longrightarrow 0 \] for any sequence of distinct manifolds $M_n = \Gamma_n \backslash X$. This answers a question of Ab\'ert, Gelander, and Nikolov, and confirms the degree-one vanishing with trivial integral coefficients predicted by a conjecture of Bergeron and Venkatesh in the higher-rank setting. In addition, we get quantitative bounds with respect to the minimal injectivity radius for both the torsion in first homology and the minimal number of generators of $\Gamma$. Finally, we prove the analogous statements for affine buildings.

math.GR↗

arXiv2026

A Product-Neighbourhood Criterion for Fixed Price One

We prove a flexible criterion for fixed price one, applying in particular to higher-rank lattices over local fields and automorphism groups of affine buildings, including lattices in exotic buildings. It also recovers fixed price one for amenable groups. We then establish a locally compact version, and deduce that every product of two noncompact, compactly generated, unimodular locally compact groups, as well as every lattice in such a product, has fixed price one.

math.GR↗

arXiv2026

Invariant trace simplices and relative property (T)

Let $\alpha\colon G\curvearrowright A$ be an action of a countable discrete group on a separable unital $C^*$-algebra. We study the simplex $\mathrm{T}(A)^G$ of $G$-invariant traces and ask when it is Bauer. Our main result is a noncommutative version of the Glasner-Weiss theorem: if $(G,H)$ has relative property (T) and the $H$-action on the von Neumann algebra of every extremal invariant trace is ergodic, that is, has only scalar fixed points, then $\mathrm{T}(A)^G$ is Bauer. We give criteria for the ergodicity hypothesis and apply them to certain quasi-local permutation actions, generalized Bernoulli actions, traces on group $C^*$-algebras, and reduced crossed products. In particular, if $G$ is infinite, has property (T), and trivial amenable radical, then $C_r^*(\Delta\wr G)$ has Bauer trace simplex for every countable discrete group $\Delta$.

math.OA↗

arXiv2026

Betti Numbers of Negatively Curved Orbifolds with Coefficients in Arbitrary Fields

We show that the Betti numbers of finite-volume negatively curved orbifolds grow at most linearly with the volume, with coefficients in an arbitrary field. In particular, this gives a linear bound for the Betti numbers of finite-volume hyperbolic orbifolds over $\mathbb{F}_p$. This extends a theorem of Gromov from manifolds to orbifolds in negative curvature, and answers a question of Samet, by strengthening his theorem from characteristic $0$ to arbitrary characteristic. The key new input is a quantitative bound on the homology of spherical quotients.

math.GT↗

arXiv2023

A Quantitative Selberg's Lemma

We show that an arithmetic lattice $\Gamma$ in a semi-simple Lie group $G$ contains a torsion-free subgroup of index $\delta(v)$ where $v = \mu (G/\Gamma)$ is the co-volume of the lattice. We prove that $\delta$ is polynomial in general and poly-logarithmic under GRH. We then show that this poly-logarithmic bound is almost optimal, by constructing certain lattices with torsion elements of order $\sim \frac{\log v}{\log \log v}$.

math.GR↗

arXiv2023

The Space of Traces of the Free Group and Free Products of Matrix Algebras

We show that the space of traces of the free group $F_d$ on $2\leq d \leq \infty $ generators is a Poulsen simplex, i.e., every trace is a pointwise limit of extreme traces. This fails for many virtually free groups. The same result holds for free products of the form $C(X_1)*C(X_2)$ where $X_1$ and $X_2$ are compact metrizable spaces without isolated points. Using a similar strategy, we show that the space of traces of the free product of matrix algebras $M_n(\mathbb{C}) * M_n(\mathbb{C})$ is a Poulsen simplex as well, answering a question of Musat and R\ordam for $n \geq 4$. Similar results are shown for certain faces of the simplices above, such as the face of finite-dimensional traces or amenable traces.

math.GR↗

arXiv2023

Spectral gap and character limits in arithmetic groups

We establish vanishing results for limits of characters in various discrete groups, most notably irreducible lattices in higher rank semisimple Lie groups. As an application, we show that any sequence of finite-dimensional representations converges to the regular representation in the Fell topology. We achieve this by studying the geometry of the simplex of traces of discrete groups having Kazhdan's property (T) or its relative generalizations.

math.GR↗

arXiv2021

On the Asymptotic Number of Generators of High Rank Arithmetic Lattices

$ $Abert, Gelander and Nikolov [AGN17] conjectured that the number of generators $d(Γ)$ of a lattice $Γ$ in a high rank simple Lie group $H$ grows sub-linearly with $v = μ(H / Γ)$, the co-volume of $Γ$ in $H$. We prove this for non-uniform lattices in a very strong form, showing that for $2-$generic such $H$'s, $d(Γ) = O_H(\log v / \log \log v)$, which is essentially optimal. While we can not prove a new upper bound for uniform lattices, we will show that for such lattices one can not expect to achieve a better bound than $d(Γ) = O(\log v)$.

math.GR↗

arXiv2020

On the Minimal Size of a Generating Set of Lattices in Lie Groups

We prove that the rank (that is, the minimal size of a generating set) of lattices in a general connected Lie group is bounded by the co-volume of the projection of the lattice to the semi-simple part of the group. This was proved by Gelander for semi-simple Lie groups and by Mostow for solvable Lie groups. Here we consider the general case, relying on the semi-simple case. In particular, we extend Mostow's theorem from solvable to amenable groups.

math.GR↗

arXiv2018

A Linear Variational Principle for Riemann Mappings and Discrete Conformality

We consider Riemann mappings from bounded Lipschitz domains in the plane to a triangle. We show that in this case the Riemann mapping has a linear variational principle: it is the minimizer of the Dirichlet energy over an appropriate affine space. By discretizing the variational principle in a natural way we obtain discrete conformal maps which can be computed by solving a sparse linear system. We show that these discrete conformal maps converge to the Riemann mapping in $H^1$, even for non-Delaunay triangulations. Additionally, for Delaunay triangulations the discrete conformal maps converge uniformly and are known to be bijective. As a consequence we show that the Riemann mapping between two bounded Lipschitz domains can be uniformly approximated by composing the Riemann mappings between each Lipschitz domain and the triangle.

cs.CG↗