Residual dimension of nilpotent groups (Q2197974)

Let \(G\) be a residually finite finitely generated group. \textit{K. Bou-Rabee} [J. Algebra 323, No. 3, 729--737 (2010; Zbl 1222.20020)] introduced the function \(F_{G, S}(n)\) (where \(n\) is a positive integer and \(S\) is a finite subset of generators of \(G\)) to better understand how fast the intersection of all subgroups of finite index becomes trivial. Let \(||g||_S\) denote the word length of \(g \in G\) with respect to \(S\), put \[k_G(g) : = \operatorname{min}\, \left\{\left|\frac{G}{N}\right| \ : \ \frac{G}{N} \ \text{is finite} \ \text{and} \ gN \neq N\right\}\] and, for each positive integer \(n\), define \[F_{G, S}(n) : = \operatorname{max}\,\{k_G(g) \ : \ ||g||_S \leq n\}\] Notice that since the dependence of \(F_{G, S}(n)\) on \(S\) is not a strong one (see [loc. cit.]) the generating set \(S\) can be neglected. The aim of this paper is to provide asymptotic bounds for \(F_N(n)\) when \(N\) is a finitely generated nilpotent group, taking into account a recent construction of Bou-Rabee that contradicted Theorem 1.1 of \textit{M. Pengitore} [New York J. Math. 24, 83--145 (2018; Zbl 1451.20007)]. The author introduces new tools to provide lower asymptotic bounds for \(F_N(n)\) and defines a large class of finitely generated nilpotent groups \(N\) (\textit{Filiform nilpotent groups}) for which the behavior of the function \(F_N(n)\) can be completely characterized.