Simple groups separated by finiteness properties (Q1725700)

A group \(G\) is said to be of type \(F_{n}\) (\(n\) a positive integer) if there exists an aspherical CW-complex whose fundamental group is isomorphic to \(G\) and whose \(n\)-skeleton is finite. For small values of \(n\), these conditions have classical interpretations: \(G\) is of type \(F_{1}\) if and only if it is finitely generated, \(G\) is of type \(F_{2}\) if and only if it is finitely presented. The first group of type \(F_{2}\) but not of type \(F_{3}\) was constructed by \textit{J. Stallings} [Am. J. Math. 85, 541--543 (1963; Zbl 0122.27301)]. It was generalized by \textit{R. Bieri} [Homological dimension of discrete groups. London: Queen Mary College, University of London (1976; Zbl 0357.20027)] to an infinite sequence of groups separated by finiteness properties, and then to a very general construction by \textit{M. Bestvina} and \textit{N. Brady} [Invent. Math. 129, No. 3, 445--470 (1997; Zbl 0888.20021)]. The main theorem proved in this elegant paper asserts that for every \(n\) there exists a simple group that is of type \(F_{n}\) but not of type \(F_{n+1}\). For \(n\geq 2\), these groups are the first known examples of this kind. As a corollary, the authors prove that there are infinitely many quasi-isometry classes of groups that are finitely presented, simple and contain free abelian subgroups of infinite rank.