Integrality of \(L^2\)-Betti numbers (Q1581826)

The Atiyah conjecture asserts that if \(G\) is a finitely presentable torsion free group and \(X\) is a finite complex with \(\pi_1(X)\cong G\) the \(L^2\)-Betti numbers \(\beta_i^{(2)}(X)\) are integers. Generalizations allow (limited) torsion in \(G\) and predict the \(L^2\)-Betti numbers are rational, with bounded denominators. The main result of this paper is that the set of groups satisfying the Atiyah conjecture with denominator \(d\) is closed under certain HNN extensions. (In forthcoming work with W. Dicks the author has used the main technical result of this paper to establish closure under arbitrary HNN extensions). Editor's remark: In the meantime, we have been informed by the author that he discovered a gap in one of the proofs in the paper. An erratum is in preparation.