On the homotopy type of CW-complexes with aspherical fundamental group (Q2502954)

A \((G,n)\)-complex is a finite \(n\)-dimensional CW-complex with fundamental group \(G\) and vanishing higher homotopy groups up to dimension \(n-1\). A group \(G\) is \(n\)-dimensional if it is the fundamental group of a finite aspherical complex and there is no such complex of smaller dimension. Every \((G,n)\)-complex of minimal directed Euler characteristic \(\chi (G,n)\) of an \(n\)-dimensional group \(G\) is aspherical. Hence up to homotopy there is a unique \((G,n)\)-complex of minimal directed Euler characteristic. But in case \(G\) contains the trefoil group as a retract, there are homotopically inequivalent \((G,n)\)-complexes with directed Euler characteristic \(\chi (G,n+1)\).