Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Yash Lodha

Publications and source records attributed to Yash Lodha.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2020

A nonamenable type $F_{\infty}$ group of piecewise projective homeomorphisms

We prove that the group of homeomorphisms of the circle introduced by the author with Justin Moore (Groups, Geometry and Dynamics 2015) is of type $F_{\infty}$. This makes the group the first example of a type $F_{\infty}$ group which is nonamenable and does not contain nonabelian free subgroups. To prove our result we provide a certain generalisation of cube complexes, which we refer to as cluster complexes. We also obtain a computable normal form, or a canonical unique choice of a word for each element of the group.

math.GR↗
arXiv2020

Approximating nonabelian free groups by groups of homeomorphisms of the real line

We show that for a large class $\mathcal{C}$ of finitely generated groups of orientation preserving homeomorphisms of the real line, the following holds: Given a group $G$ of rank $k$ in $\mathcal{C}$, there is a sequence of $k$-markings $(G, S_n), n\in \mathbf{N}$ whose limit in the space of marked groups is the free group of rank $k$ with the standard marking. The class we consider consists of groups that admit actions satisfying mild dynamical conditions and a certain "self-similarity" type hypothesis. Examples include Thompson's group $F$, Higman-Thompson groups, Stein-Thompson groups, various Bieri-Strebel groups, the golden ratio Thompson group, and finitely presented non amenable groups of piecewise projective homeomorphisms. For the case of Thompson's group $F$ we provide a new and considerably simpler proof of this fact proved by Brin (Groups, Geometry, and Dynamics 2010).

math.GR↗
arXiv2020

The BNSR-invariants of the Lodha-Moore groups, and an exotic simple group of type $\textrm{F}_\infty$

In this paper we give a complete description of the Bieri-Neumann-Strebel-Renz invariants of the Lodha-Moore groups. The second author previously computed the first two invariants, and here we show that all the higher invariants coincide with the second one, which finishes the complete computation. As a consequence, we present a complete picture of the finiteness properties of normal subgroups of the first Lodha-Moore group. In particular, we show that every finitely presented normal subgroup of the group is of type $\textrm{F}_\infty$, answering question 112 from Oberwolfach Rep., 15(2):1579-1633, 2018. The proof involves applying a variation of Bestvina-Brady discrete Morse theory to the so called cluster complex $X$ introduced by the first author. As an application, we also demonstrate that a certain simple group $S$ previously constructed by the first author is of type $\textrm{F}_\infty$. This provides the first example of a type $\textrm{F}_\infty$ simple group that acts faithfully on the circle by homeomorphisms, but does not admit any nontrivial action by $C^1$-diffeomorphisms, nor by piecewise linear homeomorphisms, on any $1$-manifold.

math.GR↗
arXiv2020

Property FW, differentiable structures, and smoothability of singular actions

We provide a smoothening criterion for group actions on manifolds by singular diffeomorphisms. We prove that if a countable group $Γ$ has the fixed point property FW for walls (e.g. if it has property (T)), every aperiodic action of $Γ$ by diffeomorphisms that are of class $C^r$ with countably many singularities is conjugate to an action by true diffeomorphisms of class $C^r$ on a homeomorphic (possibly non-diffeomorphic) manifold. As applications, we show that Navas's result for actions of Kazhdan groups on the circle, as well as the recent solutions to Zimmer's conjecture, generalise to aperiodic actions by diffeomorphisms with countably many singularities.

math.DS↗
arXiv2019

Finitely generated infinite simple groups of homeomorphisms of the real line

We construct examples of finitely generated infinite simple groups of homeomorphisms of the real line. Equivalently, these are examples of finitely generated simple left (or right) orderable groups. This answers a well known open question of Rhemtulla from 1980 concerning the existence of such groups. In fact, our construction provides a family of continuum many isomorphism types of groups with these properties.

math.GR↗
arXiv2019

Two-chains and square roots of Thompson's group $F$

We study two--generated subgroups $\langle f,g\rangle<\mathrm{Homeo}^+(I)$ such that $\langle f^2,g^2\rangle$ is isomorphic to Thompson's group $F$, and such that the supports of $f$ and $g$ form a chain of two intervals. We show that this class contains uncountably many isomorphism types. These include examples with nonabelian free subgroups, examples which do not admit faithful actions by $C^2$ diffeomorphisms on $1$--manifolds, examples which do not admit faithful actions by $PL$ homeomorphisms on an interval, and examples which are not finitely presented. We thus answer questions due to M. Brin. We also show that many relatively uncomplicated groups of homeomorphisms can have very complicated square roots, thus establishing the behavior of square roots of $F$ as part of a general phenomenon among subgroups of $\mathrm{Homeo}^+(I)$.

math.GR↗
arXiv2019

Uniformly perfect finitely generated simple left orderable groups

We show that the finitely generated simple left orderable groups $G_ρ$ constructed by the first two authors in arXiv:1807.06478 are uniformly perfect - each element in the group can be expressed as a product of three commutators of elements in the group. This implies that the group does not admit any homogeneous quasimorphism. Moreover, any nontrivial action of the group on the circle, which lifts to an action on the real line, admits a fixed point. Most strikingly, it follows that the groups are examples of left orderable monsters, which means that any faithful action on the real line without a global fixed point is globally contracting. This answers Question 4 from the 2018 ICM proceedings article of the third author. (This question has also been answered simultaneously and independently, using completely different methods, by Matte Bon and Triestino in arXiv:1811.12256.) To prove our results, we provide a certain characterisation of elements of the group $G_ρ$ which is a useful new tool in the study of these examples.

math.GR↗
arXiv2018

Hyperbolicity as an obstruction to smoothability for one-dimensional actions

Ghys and Sergiescu proved in the $80$s that Thompson's group $T$, and hence $F$, admits actions by $C^{\infty}$ diffeomorphisms of the circle . They proved that the standard actions of these groups are topologically conjugate to a group of $C^\infty$ diffeomorphisms. Monod defined a family of groups of piecewise projective homeomorphisms, and Lodha-Moore defined finitely presentable groups of piecewise projective homeomorphisms. These groups are of particular interest because they are nonamenable and contain no free subgroup. In contrast to the result of Ghys-Sergiescu, we prove that the groups of Monod and Lodha-Moore are not topologically conjugate to a group of $C^1$ diffeomorphisms. Furthermore, we show that the group of Lodha-Moore has no nonabelian $C^1$ action on the interval. We also show that many Monod's groups $H(A)$, for instance when $A$ is such that $\mathsf{PSL}(2,A)$ contains a rational homothety $x\mapsto \tfrac{p}{q}x$, do not admit a $C^1$ action on the interval. The obstruction comes from the existence of hyperbolic fixed points for $C^1$ actions. With slightly different techniques, we also show that some groups of piecewise affine homeomorphisms of the interval or the circle are not smoothable.

math.GR↗
arXiv2018

Commutators in groups of piecewise projective homeomorphisms

In 2012 Monod introduced examples of groups of piecewise projective homeomorphisms which are not amenable and which do not contain free subgroups, and later Lodha and Moore introduced examples of finitely presented groups with the same property. In this article we examine the normal subgroup structure of these groups. Two important cases of our results are the groups $H$ and $G_0$. We show that the group $H$ of piecewise projective homeomorphisms of $\mathbb{R}$ has the property that $H"$ is simple and that every proper quotient of $H$ is metabelian. We establish simplicity of the commutator subgroup of the group $G_0$, which admits a presentation with $3$ generators and $9$ relations. Further we show that every proper quotient of $G_0$ is abelian. It follows that the normal subgroups of these groups are in bijective correspondence with those of the abelian (or metabelian) quotient.

math.GR↗
arXiv2018

Coherent actions by homeomorphisms on the real line or an interval

We study actions of groups by homeomorphisms on $\mathbf{R}$ (or an interval) that are minimal, have solvable germs at $\pm \infty$ and contain a pair of elements of a certain type. We call such actions coherent. We establish that such an action is rigid, i.e. any two such actions of the same group are topologically conjugate. We also establish that the underlying group is always non elementary amenable, but satisfies that every proper quotient is solvable. As a first application, we demonstrate that any coherent group action $G<Homeo^+(\mathbf{R})$ that produces a nonamenable equivalence relation with respect to the Lebesgue measure satisfies that the underlying group does not embed into Thompson's group $F$. This includes all known examples of nonamenable groups that do not contain non abelian free subgroups and act faithfully on the real line by homeomorphisms. As a second application, we establish that the Brown-Stein-Thompson groups $F(2,p_1,...,p_n)$ for $n\geq 1$ and $p_1,...,p_n$ distinct odd primes, do not embed into Thompson's group $F$. This answers a question recently raised by C. Bleak, M. Brin, and J. Moore. Our tools also allow us to prove additional non embeddability results for Brown-Stein-Thompson and Bieri-Strebel groups.

math.GR↗
arXiv2018

A finitely presented infinite simple group of homeomorphisms of the circle

We construct a finitely presented, infinite, simple group that acts by homeomorphisms on the circle, but does not admit a non-trivial action by $C^1$-diffeomorphisms on the circle. The group emerges as a group of piecewise projective homeomorphisms of $S^1=\mathbf{R}\cup \{\infty\}$. However, we show that it does not admit a non-trivial action by piecewise linear homeomorphisms of the circle. Another interesting and new feature of this example is that it produces a non amenable orbit equivalence relation with respect to the Lebesgue measure.

math.GR↗
arXiv2017

Chain groups of homeomorphisms of the interval

We introduce and study the notion of a chain group of homeomorphisms of a one-manifold, which is a certain generalization of Thompson's group $F$. The resulting class of groups exhibits a combination of uniformity and diversity. On the one hand, a chain group either has a simple commutator subgroup or the action of the group has a wandering interval. In the latter case, the chain group admits a canonical quotient which is also a chain group, and which has a simple commutator subgroup. On the other hand, every finitely generated subgroup of $\operatorname{Homeo}^+(I)$ can be realized as a subgroup of a chain group. As a corollary, we show that there are uncountably many isomorphism types of chain groups, as well as uncountably many isomorphism types of countable simple subgroups of $\operatorname{Homeo}^+(I)$. We consider the restrictions on chain groups imposed by actions of various regularities, and show that there are uncountably many isomorphism types of $3$--chain groups which cannot be realized by $C^2$ diffeomorphisms, as well as uncountably many isomorphism types of $6$--chain groups which cannot be realized by $C^1$ diffeomorphisms. As a corollary, we obtain uncountably many isomorphism types of simple subgroups of $\operatorname{Homeo}^+(I)$ which admit no nontrivial $C^1$ actions on the interval. Finally, we show that if a chain group acts minimally on the interval, then it does so uniquely up to topological conjugacy.

math.GT↗
arXiv2017

An upper bound for the Tarski numbers of non amenable groups of piecewise projective homeomorphisms

The Tarski number of a non amenable group is the smallest number of pieces needed for a paradoxical decomposition of the group. Non amenable groups of piecewise projective homeomorphisms were introduced by Monod, and non amenable finitely presented groups of piecewise projective homeomorphisms were introduced by the author in joint work with Justin Moore. These groups do not contain non abelian free subgroups. In this article we prove that the Tarski number of all groups in both families is at most 25. In particular we demonstrate the existence of a paradoxical decomposition with 25 pieces. Our argument also applies to any group of piecewise projective homeomorphisms that contains as a subgroup the group of piecewise $PSL_2(\mathbb{Z})$ homeomorphisms of $\mathbb{R}$ with rational breakpoints, and an affine map that is a not an integer translation.

math.GR↗
arXiv2014

A finitely presented group of piecewise projective homeomorphisms

In this article we will describe a finitely presented subgroup of Monod's group of piecewise projective homeomorphisms of R. This in particular provides a new example of a finitely presented group which is nonamenable and yet does not contain a nonabelian free subgroup. It is in fact the first such example which is torsion free. We will also develop a means for representing the elements of the group by labeled tree diagrams in a manner which closely parallels Richard Thompson's group F.

math.GR↗