The Euler-Goldie rank of some virtually polycyclic groups (Q1083508)

Let k be a division ring, and \(\Gamma\) a polycyclic-by-finite group. The Euler characteristic \(\chi_{k\Gamma}(M)\) of a finitely generated \(k\Gamma\)-module M is defined as follows: Let H be a poly-(infinite cyclic) subgroup of finite index in \(\Gamma\), and let \(0\to F_ n\to...\to F_ 0\to M\to 0\) be a resolution of M by finitely generated free kH-modules, with \(rank(F_ j)=f_ j\). (Such a resolution is known to exist, by [\textit{F. T. Farrell} and \textit{W. C. Hsiang}, Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 17, 192-218 (1970; Zbl 0217.045)]. Set \(\chi_{k\Gamma}(M)=[\Gamma:H]^{-1}\sum^{n}_{i=0}(-1)^ if_ i\). This is independent of the choices of H and of the resolution. The Euler- Goldie rank, \(r_ k(\Gamma)\), is the least common multiple of the denominators of the \(\chi_{k\Gamma}(M)\), for all finitely generated M. When \(k\Gamma\) is a prime ring, \(r_ k(\Gamma)\) is indeed the usual Goldie rank of \(k\Gamma\)- see [\textit{S. Rosset}, Groupe de Brauer, Lect. Notes Math. 844, 35-45 (1981; Zbl 0462.16005)], where a proof that \(\chi_{k\Gamma}(M)\) is well-defined is also given. The author here extends from the case where k has characteristic 0 the conjecture of [\textit{D. R. Farkas}, Commun. Algebra 8, 585-602 (1980; Zbl 0428.16011)] that \(r_ k(\Gamma)=\rho (\Gamma)\), where \(\rho\) (\(\Gamma)\) is the least common multiple of the orders of the finite subgroups of \(\Gamma\). He proves the conjecture in the case where \(\Gamma\) is (torsion free)-by- cyclic, and k is a field whose characteristic does not divide \(\rho\) (\(\Gamma)\). Our knowledge in this area surrounding the zero-divisor problem has advanced markedly since the research for this paper was done in 1981. In particular, the above conjecture has been confirmed - see [\textit{J. A. Moody}, Induction theorems for infinite groups, Bull. Amer. Math. Soc., New Ser. (to appear July 1987)]. Moody's work was in part stimulated by a preprint version of the paper under review.