Asphericity and zero divisors in group algebras (Q1977570)

A recent result of \textit{S. V. Ivanov} [J. Algebra 216, No. 1, 13-19 (1999; Zbl 0939.20032)] discovers a surprising connection between asphericity of certain spaces and the existence of zero divisors in group algebras. In this paper the author gives a different proof of a more general result. However, in the main case when \(G\) is torsion-free, the notorious problem of the existence of zero divisors in \(\mathbb{Z} G\) remains open.