Relative growth series in some hyperbolic groups (Q1271223)

Let \(G\) be a group of finite type, equipped with the word metric with respect to a finite set of generators \(S\) and let \(G_0\subset G\) be a subgroup. Then, the relative growth series \(\xi_0(z)=\xi_0(G,G_0,S,z)\) is defined by \(\xi_0(z)=\sum_{g\in G_{0}}z^{| g|}\). This notion has already been studied, in particular by Grigorchuk and de la Harpe. As the author notes, Grigorchuk proved that for a finitely generated subgroup of a free group, the relative growth series is a rational function. Grigorchuk and de la Harpe have proved that if \(G\) is the free group on two generators and \(G_0\) the commutator subgroup, then \(\xi_0(z)\) is not rational. In this paper, the author gives a new class of examples where the relative growth series is not rational. The examples are made up of groups acting isometrically on the hyperbolic space \(H^n\). He proves the following Theorem. Let \(G\) be a convex co-compact group of isometries of \(H^n\), equipped with a finite generating set \(S\) such that \(G\) admits a fundamental domain \(R\) satisfying the following properties: (i) \(R\) is a finite sided polyhedron (of finite or infinite volume); (ii) \(S=\{g\in G:gR\cap R\not=\emptyset\}\); and (iii) the set \(\bigcup_{g\in G} g\partial R\) is a union of hyperplanes. Suppose now that \(G_0\) is a normal subgroup of \(G\) such that \(G/G_0\cong Z^\nu\), \(\nu\geq 1\). Then the relative growth series \(\xi_0(z)\) is not a rational function. Properties (i), (ii) and (iii) have been introduced in the context of Fuchsian groups by Bowen and Series. The author gives examples of groups satisfying these properties, in particular a class of Coxeter groups and another class where \(G_0\) is finitely generated.