\(L^{2}\)-invariants of finite aspherical CW-complexes (Q1014806)

The author calculates the \(L^2\)-invariants of finite aspherical CW-complex whose fundamental group \(\Gamma\) has a finite subnormal series which terminates in a non-trivial elementary amenable group. \(L^2\)-invariants have been intensively studied in recent years by many mathematicians, and have quite a few applications ranging from ring theory to differential geometry. Among the more mysterious ones is the \(L^2\)-torsion. The main contribution of Wegner's paper concerns the conjecture that this invariant is zero for finite classifying spaces of amenable groups. He establishes the conjecture when \(\Gamma\) has a finite subnormal series which starts with an infinite elementary amenable group. To do this, he establishes a very nice technique of localization which preserves determinants. More generally, the result holds when \(\Gamma\) is not aspherical, but has semi-integral determinant (introduced in [\textit{T. Schick}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 353, No.~8, 3247--3265 (2001; Zbl 0979.55004)]). The paper also establishes that under the same conditions the Novikov-Shubin invariants of the group are positive.