Growth exponent of generic groups. (Q2497108)

Let \(\Gamma=\langle a_1,\dots,a_m\mid R\rangle\) be a finitely generated group. The growth exponent of \(\Gamma\) with respect to this generating set is given by \(g=\lim_{\ell\to\infty}\tfrac 1\ell\log_{2m-1}|B_\ell|\), where \(B_\ell\) is the closed ball of radius \(\ell\) in \(\Gamma\) based at the origin. The maximum value of \(g\) is \(1\) and it is obtained precisely when \(\Gamma\) is free on \(a_1,\dots,a_m\). \textit{R. Grigorchuk} and \textit{P. de la Harpe}, [in J. Dyn. Control Syst. 3, No. 1, 51--89 (1997; Zbl 0949.20033)], ask for conditions under which \(g\) gets arbitrarily close to \(1\). \textit{A.~G.~Shukhov} [in Math. Notes 65, No. 4, 510--515 (1999); translation from Mat. Zametki 65, No. 4, 612--617 (1999; Zbl 0979.20033)] shows that a group presentation with long relators satisfying the \(C'(1/6)\) small cancellation condition and another condition on relators has growth exponent arbitrarily close to \(1\). In the paper under review, the author shows that having a growth exponent of at least \(1-\varepsilon\) is a generic property in the density model of \textit{M. Gromov} [Geometric group theory. Vol. 2: Asymptotic invariants of infinite groups. Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 182. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (1993; Zbl 0841.20039)] of random groups. The density model allows for a measure of control on the quantity of relations in the random group. Gromov showed that below density \(1/2\) random groups are very probably infinite and hyperbolic and above density \(1/2\) are very probably trivial. The main theorem is the following: Let \(\Gamma_0\) be a non-elementary torsion-free hyperbolic group of growth exponent \(g\). Let \(d<g/2\). Let \(G\) be a quotient of \(G_0\) by random elements at density \(d\) and length \(\ell\). Then, for any \(\varepsilon>0\) the growth exponent of \(G\) lies between \(g-\varepsilon\) and \(g\) with probability tending to \(1\) as \(\ell\to\infty\). When \(G_0\) is a free group, \(g=1\) and the theorem becomes: Let \(d<1/2\) and let \(G\) be a random group on \(m\) generators with density \(d\); then, for any \(\varepsilon>0\), the probability that the growth exponent of \(\Gamma\) is at least \(1-\varepsilon\) tends to \(1\) as the length \(\ell\to\infty\). This follows from Shukhov's theorem for density \(<1/12\) and provides a new large class of groups with large growth exponent. The paper also contains a nice description of the background and the tools necessary, making it self-contained.