The \(FP_ m\)-conjecture for a class of metabelian groups (Q1815023)

The main results of this paper contribute to R. Bieri's conjecture which describes the homological property of finitely generated metabelian groups of being of type \(FP_m\) in terms of a geometric property of the invariant \(\Sigma^c\), introduced by \textit{R. Bieri} and \textit{R. Strebel} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 41, 439-464 (1980; Zbl 0448.20029)]. Recall Bieri's conjecture: Assume \(G\) is a finitely generated metabelian group, \(A\) an abelian normal subgroup of \(G\) with abelian quotient, and \(m\geq 2\). Then the following statements are equivalent: (i) \(G\) is of type \(FP_m\) over some nonzero commutative ring. (ii) \(G\) is of type \(FP_m\) over \(\mathbb{Z}\). (iii) The subset \(\Sigma^c_A\) of the sphere \(S(G/A)\) is \(m\)-tame. The first evidence for the truth of the conjecture was a theorem by R. Bieri and R. Strebel [op. cit.] which established the conjecture for \(m=2\). \textit{H. Åberg} [ibid. 52, 269-304 (1986; Zbl 0588.20026)] proved the conjecture for \(m\geq 2\), but under an extra hypothesis on \(G\): If \(G\) has finite Prüfer rank then the conjecture is true for every \(m\geq 2\). Continuing Åberg's work the author proves Theorem A. Let \(G\) be a finitely generated group with a normal subgroup \(A\) and an abelian quotient \(Q\simeq G/A\) such that \(A\) is a torsion abelian group and has Krull dimension one as a \(\mathbb{Z} Q\)-module. If \(A\) is \(m\)-tame as \(\mathbb{Z} Q\)-module then \(G\) is of type \(FP_m\). Theorem B. Let \(A\to G\to Q\) be a short sequence of groups with \(G\) finitely generated, \(A\) and \(Q\) abelian, and either the extension is split or \(A\) is a torsion group. If \(G\) is of type \(FP_m\) then \(A\) is \(m\)-tame as \(\mathbb{Z} Q\)-module. As a consequence the author proves Bieri's conjecture for extensions with \(\mathbb{Z}\)-torsion Krull dimension one \(\mathbb{Z} Q\)-module \(A\). Recently \textit{K. U. Bux} [Finiteness properties of certain metabelian arithmetic groups in the function field case (submitted)] has proved the last consequence in the case where \(A\) is an \(S\)-arithmetic ring of prime characteristic and the extension is split.