On the stability of asymptotic property C for products and some group extensions (Q679784)

A metric space \((X,d)\) is said to have ``asymptotic property C'' if for each (infinite) sequence \(R_1, R_2, \ldots\) of real numbers there exists a finite sequence \(\mathcal{U}_1, \mathcal{U}_2, \ldots, \mathcal{U}_n\) of families of subsets of \(X\) such that (1) \(\bigcup_i \mathcal{U}_i\) covers \(X\), (2) each \(\mathcal{U}_i\) satisfies \(d(v, v') > R_i\) for \(v \in U_k, v' \in U_l\), \(k \neq l\) (e.g. distinct elements of the families are at least distance \(R_i\) appart) and (3) \(\mathcal{U}_i\) is uniformly bounded (i.e. \(\sup\{\text{diam}(U)\,:\,U\in\mathcal{U}_i\} < \infty\)). The authors of the article prove the following theorem: ``Let \(X\) and \(Y\) be metric spaces. If both \(X\) and \(Y\) have asymptotic property C, then \(X \times Y\) has asymptotic property C'', and thereby answer an open question in the affirmative. Two group theoretic theorems follow: ``Let \(G\) and \(H\) be with proper left-invariant metrics. If \(G\) and \(H\) have asymptotic property C, then \(G \times H\) has asymptotic property C. If \(G\) and \(H\) have asymptotic property C, then \(G * H\) has asymptotic property C. If \(1 \to K \to G \to H \to 1\) is an exact sequence, \(H\) has asymptotic property C and \(K\) has finite asymptotic dimension, then \(G\) has asymptotic property C.'' ``Let \(X\) and \(Y\) be metric spaces that are discrete in the metric sense. If \(X\) and \(Y\) have asymptotic property C, then \(X * Y\) has asymptotic property C.''