Finiteness properties of Chevalley groups over \(\mathbb{F}_ q[t]\) (Q1335158)

A group \(\Gamma\) is called of type \(F_ n\) if it has an Eilenberg- MacLane complex with finite \(n\)-skeleton. \(\Gamma\) is called of type \(FP_ n\) if there exists a projective resolution of the trivial \(\Gamma\)-module \(\mathbb{Z}\) starting with \(n + 1\) finitely generated \(\mathbb{Z} \Gamma\)-modules. One knows that \(F_ 1\) equals \(FP_ 1\) and is equivalent to \(\Gamma\) having a finite set of generators. \(F_ 2\) is equivalent to \(\Gamma\) having a finite presentation. \(F_ 2\) implies \(FP_ 2\). The converse is an open problem. But \(F_ n\) is equivalent to ``\(F_ 2\) and \(FP_ n\)'' for \(n \geq 2\). The finiteness length \(\varphi(\Gamma)\) is defined as the supremum of \(n\) such that \(\Gamma\) is of type \(F_ n\). In the paper under review the finiteness length is determined for certain arithmetic groups over fields of finite characteristic. To be precise, let \(\mathcal G\) be a simple Chevalley group of rank \(n\) and let \(\Gamma = {\mathcal G} (\mathbb{F}_ q [t])\). Then the finiteness length is conjectured to be \(n - 1\). This is proved in the paper for the classical groups \(\mathcal G\) of type \(A_ n\), \(B_ n\), \(C_ n\) or \(D_ n\) provided \(q \geq 2^{2n - 1}\). The proof consists in studying the action of \(\Gamma\) on the Bruhat-Tits building \(X\) of \({\mathcal G}(\mathbb{F}_ q(({1\over t})))\). Then one has to show that certain subcomplexes of the links of simplices in \(X\) are spherical. This is contained in a forthcoming paper of the author.