On the \(K\)-theory of linear groups (Q738872)

Let \(G\) be a finitely generated subgroup of \(\mathrm{GL}_n(R)\), where \(R\) is a commutative ring with unit. The main result of the paper under review is that the family of metric spaces of the quotients \(\{F/G\}_{F \in \mathcal{F}in}\), where \(\mathcal{F}in\) is the family of finite subgroups of \(G\), has finite asymptotic dimension. For such groups \(G\) that have a finite dimensional model \(\underline{E}G\) for the classifying space of \(G\)-actions with finite isotropy subgroups, the above result has the following consequence. The assembly map from the family of finite subgroups, with coefficients in the \(K\)-theory of an additive \(G\)-category \(\mathcal{A}\), to the \(K\)-theory of the group with the same coefficients is split injective. If \(\mathcal{A}\) is an additive \(G\)-category with involution, for the corresponding result in \(L\)-theory, an additional assumption is needed. Namely, for every virtually nilpotent \(A \leq G\), there is \(i_0 \in \mathbb{N}\) such that for every \(i \geq i_0\), \(K_{-i}(\mathcal{A}[A]) = 0\). Under the above assumption the corresponding assembly map in \(L\)-theory is split injective. Furthermore, the author provides a criterion for a finite dimensional model \(\underline{E}G\) for \(G < \mathrm{GL}_n(R)\), with \(R\) a commutative ring with unit. Such an \(\underline{E}G\) exists if and only if the set of Hirsch numbers of solvable subgroups of \(G\) is bounded. The author first proves that, for \(G < \mathrm{GL}_n(K)\), with \(K\) a field of positive characteristic, there is a left invariant metric on \(G\) such that the family \(\{F/G\}_{F \in \mathcal{F}in}\) has finite asymptotic dimension uniformly. For the proof the author uses the metrics that are derived from norms in \(K\). For \(G < \mathrm{GL}_n(R)\), \(R\) a commutative ring with unit, using the inheritance properties the author reduces the problem to the case when \(R\) has a trivial nilradical. In that case, he proves that the family \(\{F/G\}_{F \in \mathcal{F}in}\) has Finite Decomposition Complexity (FDC). The main properties of the FDC are given in [\textit{E. Guentner} et al., Groups Geom. Dyn. 7, No. 2, 377--402 (2013; Zbl 1272.52041)] and [\textit{E. Guentner} et al., Invent. Math. 189, No. 2, 315--357 (2012; Zbl 1257.57028)]. In an Appendix, the author provides the modifications and the generalization he needs from the results in [\textit{D. Kasprowski}, On the \(K\)-theory of groups with finite decomposition complexity. Münster: Univ. Münster, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik (Diss.). (2014; Zbl 1303.19001)] and [\textit{D. Kasprowski}, Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 110, No. 3, 565--592 (2015; Zbl 1349.19001)].