Deficiency, relation gap and two-dimensional groups (Q7007385)

Let \(G\) be a finitely presented group with presentation \(G=\langle X\vert R\rangle\). The deficiency of \(G\), \(\delta(G)\), is defined as the maximum of \(|X|-|R|\) over all presentations of \(G\). Given a presentation for \(G\), \(\langle X\vert R\rangle\) and a finite subgroup \(H<G\) of finite index, one obtains a presentation of \(H\) with \(|G:H|(|X|-1)+1\) generators and \(|G:H|\) relations, hence one has the following inequality \(\delta(H)-1\geq |G:H|(\delta(G)-1)\). The authors previously proved [\textit{A. Kar} and \textit{N. Nikolov}, Int. Math. Res. Not. 2016, No. 3, 696--716 (2016; Zbl 1378.20045)] that if \(G\) has a finite classifying space of dimension 2, the previous inequality is an equality for every subgroup \(H<G\) of \(G\) of finite index. The 2D Conjecture asks for the converse of this, namely: \N\N\textbf{2D Conjecture.} Let \(G\) be a residually finite, finitely presented group such that \(\delta(H)-1=|G:H|(\delta (G)-1)\) for every subgroup \(H<G\) of finite index. Then \(G\) has a finite classifying space of dimension 2.\N\NLet \(G=\langle X|R\rangle\) be a finitely presented group and \(N\) be the subgroup of \(G\) normally generated by \(R\). Then \(G\) acts by conjugation on \(N\) and this induces an action on the abelianization, \(N^{ab}\), of \(N\). The \(G\)-module \(N^{ab}\) is called the relation module. The \(G\)-rank of \(N^{ab}\), written \(d_{G}(N^{ab})\) satisfies \(d_{G}(N^{ab})\leq d_{F}(N)\), where \(d_{F}(N)\) is the minimum number of normal generatos for \(N\). A presentation has \textsl{a relation gap} if \(d_{G}(N^{ab})\not=d_{F}(N)\). The relation between this relation gap and the 2D Conjecture is the following \N\N\textbf{Theorem.} Assume \(G\) is a counterexample to the 2D Conjecture. Then, there exists a finite index subgroup \(H<G\) with presentation with a relation gap and this presentation realizes the deficiency of \(H\). \N\NThe authors prove an analog of the 2D Conjecture in dimensions greater than 2 and explore the 2D Conjecture for pro \(P\)-groups.