Relative hyperbolicity, classifying spaces, and lower algebraic \(K\)-theory (Q2466897)

For a discrete group \(\Gamma\) and a family \(\mathcal F\) of subgroups one has a classifying space \(E_{\mathcal F}(\Gamma)\) that is universal amongst the \(\Gamma\)-CW-complexes whose isotropy groups are in \(\mathcal F\). In connection with the Farrel-Jones isomorphism conjecture the following cases are of special interest. Either \(\mathcal F=\mathcal{VC}\) consists of the virtually cyclic subgroups or \(\mathcal F=\mathcal{FIN}\) consists of the finite subgroups. The authors describe a method to get from a nice geometric model of \(E_{\mathcal F}(\Gamma)\) for a small \(\mathcal F\) to one for a larger \(\mathcal F\). Now take for \(\Gamma\) the Coxeter group \(\Gamma_3\), a non-uniform lattice in \(O^+(3,1)\), consisting of the elements of \(O^+(3,1)\) that preserve the standard integral lattice \(\mathbb Z^4\subset \mathbb R^4\). One gets a nice eight-dimensional model for \(E_{\mathcal {VC}}(\Gamma)\). The Farrel-Jones isomorphism conjecture holds for this case and is used for a complete computation of the lower algebraic \(K\)-theory of the relatively hyperbolic group \(\Gamma_3\). This requires a detailed knowledge of \(\mathcal{VC}\) and also needs a computation of some Waldhausen Nil-groups. These Nil-groups are computed using a connection with Farrell Nil-groups. The final result corrects an earlier computation by the second author.