Semi-continuity of the first \(\ell^2\)-Betti number on the space of finitely generated groups. (Q2497111)

Summary: To each finitely generated group is associated a sequence \((\beta_0,\beta_1,\beta_2,\dots)\) of non-negative real numbers, its \(\ell^2\)-Betti numbers. On the other hand, the set of finitely generated groups desingularizes into a usual topological space, the space MG of finitely generated marked groups. It is proved in this note that if a sequence \(\Gamma_n\in\text{MG}\) of marked groups converges to a group \(\Gamma\), then \(\overline\lim\,\beta_1(\Gamma_n)\leq\beta_1(\Gamma)\).