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Warren Dicks

Publications and source records attributed to Warren Dicks.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2006

L^2-Betti numbers of one-relator groups

We determine the L^2-Betti numbers of all one-relator groups and all surface-plus-one-relation groups (surface-plus-one-relation groups were introduced by Hempel who called them one-relator surface groups). In particular we show that for all such groups G, the L^2-Betti numbers b_n^{(2)}(G) are 0 for all n>1. We also obtain some information about the L^2-cohomology of left-orderable groups, and deduce the non-L^2 result that, in any left-orderable group of homological dimension one, all two-generator subgroups are free.

math.GR↗
arXiv2006

Retracts of vertex sets of trees and the almost stability theorem

Let G be a group, let T be an (oriented) G-tree with finite edge stabilizers, and let VT denote the vertex set of T. We show that, for each G-retract V' of the G-set VT, there exists a G-tree whose edge stabilizers are finite and whose vertex set is V'. This fact leads to various new consequences of the almost stability theorem. We also give an example of a group G, a G-tree T and a G-retract V' of VT such that no G-tree has vertex set V'.

math.GR↗
arXiv2001

Classifying spaces for proper actions of locally-finite groups

For each finite ordinal n, and each locally-finite group G of cardinality aleph-sub-n, we construct an (n+1)-dimensional, contractible CW-complex on which G acts with finite stabilizers. We use the complex to obtain information about cohomology with induced coefficients. Our techniques also give information about the location of some large free abelian groups in the hierarchy HF.

math.GR↗
arXiv2001

The spectral measure of certain elements of the complex group ring of a wreath product

We use elementary methods to compute the L2-dimension of the eigenspaces of the Markov operator on the lamplighter group and of generalizations of this operator on other groups. In particular, we give a transparent explanation of the spectral measure of the Markov operator on the lamplighter group found by Grigorchuk-Zuk. The latter result was used by Grigorchuk-Linnell-Schick-Zuk to produce a counterexample to a strong version of the Atiyah conjecture about the range of L2-Betti numbers. We use our results to construct manifolds with certain L2-Betti numbers (given as convergent infinite sums of rational numbers) which are not obviously rational, but we have been unable to determine whether any of them are irrational.

math.GT↗