On vanishing of \(L^{2}\)-Betti numbers for groups (Q2468451)

Let \(G\) be a discrete group and \(X\) a finite dimensional contractible \(G\)-CW-complex. The main theorem of the paper states that if the \(L^2\)-Betti numbers \(b_p^{(2)}(G_\sigma)\) for all stabilizers \(G_\sigma\) of cells \(\sigma\in X\) vanish for all \(p\) then the \(L^2\)-Betti numbers \(b_p^{(2)}(G)\) vanish, too. As a corollary, a relation between the \(L^2\)-Euler characteristic for \(X\) as a \(G\)-CW-complex and those for \(X\) as a \(G_\sigma\)-CW-complex is obtained under certain assumptions.