A refinement of the simple connectivity at infinity for groups. (Q1423802)

For a finitely generated group a choice of a finite generating set determines a word metric. Two finite generating sets give rise to quasi-isometric metric spaces. Properties of finitely generated groups invariant under quasi-isometry are therefore independent of this choice and are called geometric properties of the group. A connected, locally compact simply connected topological space \(X\) is simply connected at infinity if for each compact set \(k\subset X\) there exists a compact set \(K\) with \(k\subset K\subset X\) so that any closed loop in \(X-K\) is null-homotopic in \(X-k\). The authors analyze the colored Rips complex to give an alternate proof of a result of \textit{S. G. Brick} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 86, No.~1, 23-33 (1993; Zbl 0780.57001)], which states that being simply connected at infinity is a geometric property of finitely generated groups. For simply connected, non-compact metric spaces that are simply connected at infinity, the authors examine the rate of vanishing of the fundamental group. Under a natural notion of equivalence, they show that the rate of vanishing is a geometric property of finitely generated groups. Finally, the authors show that the rate of vanishing of the fundamental group at infinity is linear for a large class of groups including uniform lattices in semi-simple Lie groups and nilpotent groups as well as fundamental groups of geometric 3-manifolds.