Jumps in cohomology and free group actions. (Q886259)

A group \(G\) is said to have periodic cohomology after \(k\)-steps over a commutative ring with unit \(R\) if there is a positive integer \(q\) such that the functors \(H^i(G,-)\) and \(H^{i+1}(G,-)\colon{_{RG}\text{Mod}}\to{_R\text{Mod}}\) are naturally equivalent for all \(i>k\). It was conjectured by \textit{O. Talelli} [in Groups St. Andrews 1997 in Bath. Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 261, 701-717 (1999; Zbl 1007.20052)] Conjecture A: If a torsion-free group \(G\) has periodic cohomology after \(k\)-steps over \(\mathbb{Z}\) then \(\text{cd}_\mathbb{Z} G\) is finite. This conjecture was shown by \textit{G. Mislin} and \textit{O. Talelli} [in Computational and geometric aspects of modern algebra. Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 275, 208-228 (2000; Zbl 0995.20035)] for the class of \(H\mathcal F\)-groups which was introduced by \textit{P. H. Kropholler} [in J. Pure Appl. Algebra 90, No. 1, 55-67 (1993; Zbl 0816.20042)]. This is a large class of groups which contains, among others, all countable linear groups, all countable soluble groups and all groups of finite virtual cohomological dimension. Here the author introduces the interesting notion of jump cohomology: A group \(G\) has jump cohomology over \(R\) if there exists an integer \(k\) such that if \(H\) is any subgroup of \(G\) with \(\text{cd}_RH<\infty\) then \(\text{cd}_RH\leq k\). Then \(k\) is called a jump height over \(R\). The following result, that is proven in the paper, gives a geometric flavour to the jump height. Let \(G\) be a discrete group acting freely and properly on an \(e\)-dimensional CW-complex \(E\). Suppose there is an integer \(n\leq e\) such that \(H_i(E,\mathbb{Z})=0\) for all \(i>n\), and \(H_n(E,\mathbb{Z})\cong\mathbb{Z}\). Set \(k=e-n\). Then \(G\) has jump cohomology of height \(k\) over \(\mathbb{Z}\). It is easy to see that if \(G\) has periodic cohomology after \(k\)-steps over \(R\) then \(k\) is a jump height over \(R\). The author relates the notion of jump height to Conjecture A in the following: Conjecture B. For every discrete group \(G\) without \(R\)-torsion the following are equivalent. (1) \(G\) has jump cohomology of height \(k\) over \(R\); (2) \(G\) has periodic cohomology after \(k\)-steps over \(R\); (3) \(\text{cd}_kG\leq k\). He proves Conjecture B, and hence Conjecture A, for the class \(H\mathcal F\), for the class of nilpotent groups in the case where \(R\) is an integral domain of characteristic zero and essentially for the class of solvable groups when \(R=\mathbb{Z}\). He also shows, among other results: Let \(G\) be a solvable group that acts freely and properly on an \(e\)-dimensional CW-complex \(E\). Suppose there is an integer \(n\leq e\) such that \(H_i(E,\mathbb{Z})=0\) for all \(i>n\), and \(H_n(E,\mathbb{Z})\cong\mathbb{Z}\), then \(h(G)\leq e-n\), where \(h(G)\) is the Hirsch number of \(G\). Note that if \(G\) has periodic cohomology with period \(q\) after \(k\)-steps over \(\mathbb{Z}\) and \(G\) is in a certain subclass of \(H\mathcal F\) then it was shown [in \textit{G. Mislin, O. Talelli}, loc. cit.] that \(G\) admits a finite dimensional free \(G\)-CW-complex homotopy equivalent to a sphere. \textit{A. Adem} and \textit{J. H. Smith} [Ann. Math. (2) 154, No. 2, 407-435 (2001; Zbl 0992.55011)] have shown that the above holds for any group \(G\) provided the periodicity isomorphisms are induced by cup product with an element in \(H^q(G,\mathbb{Z})\). It is conjectured [in \textit{O. Talelli}, loc. cit.], that the periodicity isomorphisms are always induced by cup product with an element in \(H^q(G,\mathbb{Z})\), for some \(q\). This conjecture was proved for the class \(H\mathcal F\) by \textit{O. Talelli} [Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 37, No. 4, 547-554 (2005; Zbl 1079.20068)].