On free \(\mathbb Z_p\)-torus actions in dimensions two and three (Q1729953)

The main contribution of the paper under review shows that the Halperin-Carlsson conjecture holds in the following cases: 1) free actions of \((\mathbb{Z}_p)^r\) (\(p\) a prime) on 2-dimensional finite CW-complexes; 2) free actions of \((\mathbb{Z}_2)^r\) on 3-dimensional closed manifolds. This provides new evidence supporting the Halperin-Carlsson conjecture. One of the key ingredients in the proof gives a lower bound of the first homology group of finite index normal subgroups for a group with a finite presentation of deficiency \(d\).