Contracting automorphisms and \(L^p\)-cohomology in degree one (Q691155)

Let \(G\) denote a locally compact group and let \(L^p = L^p(G,m_G)\), \(m_G\) denoting the left Haar measure. For \(p\geq 1\), let \(D_p =D_p(G)\) denote the space of Dirichlet functions \[ \left\{ f: \text{s.t.}\;G\ni g\mapsto f-f(\cdot g)\in L^p \text{ is continuous}\right\}. \] \(\rho_G^p\), defined by \(\rho_G^p(g): L^p\ni f\mapsto f(\cdot g)\in L^p\), denotes the regular representation of \(G\) on \(L^p\). \(D_p\) is endowed with a suitable locally convex topology, and it is known (cf. the second author [Ann. Inst. Fourier 59, No. 2, 851--876 (2009; Zbl 1225.22019)]) that \(D_p/\mathbb{R}\cong Z^1(G,\rho_G^p)\), the space of 1-cocycles. Define \(H_p^1(G):=D_p(G)/(L^p+\mathbb{R}) \cong H^1(G,\rho_G^p)\) and \(\overline{H}_p^1(G):= D_p(G)/\overline{(L^p+\mathbb{R})} \cong \overline{H}^1(G,\rho_G^p)\). In the following, throughout \(G\) is a (real) Lie group or a linear group over a non-Archimedean local field of characteristic 0. A Lie group with finite quotient \(G/G_0\) is called `Heintze type' if \(G=S\ltimes N\), for a simply connected nilpotent Lie group \(N\) and \(S\supseteq \mathbb{Z}\) (as co-compact subgroup) contracting \(N\). A group of ``non-Archimedean Heintze type'' is defined analogously, \(G=S\ltimes N\) where now \(N\) is totally disconnected locally compact and nilpotent. \(\mathbb{Z}\) acts (by automorphisms) contracting on a locally compact group \(H\) if there exists a compact set \(U\) such that for all compact \(M\subseteq G\) we have \(k\cdot M\subseteq U\) for all large \(k\). \(G\) is of rank-one type (real or non-Archimedean) if there exists a compact normal subgroup \(W\) such that a subgroup of \(G/W\) of finite index is isomorphic to the quotient of a simple group of rank 1 over its centre. The main result (Theorem 1) complements results obtained by the second author in the above mentioned paper and in [``Isoperimetric profile of subgroups and probability of return of random walks on elementary solvable groups''. Preprint (2009)]: If \(G\) is a connected real Lie group or a linear algebraic group (over a non-Archimedean local field of characteristic 0) then (1) if \(G\) is amenable and unimodular, then \(\overline{H}^1_p(G)=0\) \((\forall p>1)\); (2) if \(G\) is of Heintze type or rank one type then \(\overline{H}_p^1 \neq 0\) for large \(p\); (3) otherwise \(\overline{H}_p^1(G) = 0\) for all \(p\geq 1\). The authors deduce several corollaries which characterize case (2), e.g. by \(G\) being a ``Gromov hyperbolic'' metric space (cf. [\textit{M. Gromov}, ``Hyperbolic groups'', in: Essays in group theory, Publ., Math. Sci. Res. Inst. 8, 75--263 (1987; Zbl 0634.20015); Geometric group theory. Volume 2. Asymptotic invariants of infinite groups. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (1993; Zbl 0841.20039)]; \textit{E. Heintze}, Math. Ann. 211, 23--34 (1974; Zbl 0273.53042)]). The proof of case (3) is contained in Section 2, providing a series of results concerning the structure of the afore-defined classes of groups, in particular of Heintze type groups. In Section 3, the proof of Theorem 1 is completed, relying on investigations of contracting actions on locally compact groups. The afore-mentioned corollaries are proved in Section 4. In an appendix, the authors obtain a generalization of \textit{E. Siebert}'s splitting theorem for (strictly) contractible groups [Math. Z. 191, 73--90 (1986; Zbl 0562.22002)]. The authors' definition of contractive actions differs slightly from Siebert's. However, for locally compact groups, it is easily verified that this definition coincides with contraction mod a compact subgroup \(H\). The action is strictly contractive if \(H=\{7e\}\). Reviewer's remark: For a reader interested in contractible groups it should be mentioned that there exists a considerably rich literature in connection with (semi)-stability and decomposability of probabilities and with the concentration function problem, e.g., the monograph by \textit{E. Siebert} and the reviewer [Stable probability measures on euclidean spaces and on locally compact groups. Structural properties and limit theorems. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers (2001; Zbl 1002.60002)]. See in particular \S{} 3.1--3.5, and 3.8 and the references mentioned there; or for more recent references, cf. [\textit{U. Baumgartner} and \textit{G. A. Willis}, Isr. J. Math. 142, 221--248 (2004; Zbl 1056.22001); \textit{H. Glöckner}, Glasg. Math. J. 47, No. 2, 329--333 (2005; Zbl 1076.22005); \textit{W. Jaworski}, Isr. J. Math. 172, 1--8 (2009; Zbl 1179.22004)].