Atiyah's \(L^2\)-index theorem, Kan-Thurston construction, and weak Bass conjecture. (Q744431)

A group \(G\) satisfies property FP if \(G\) admits a finitely dominated \(K(G,1)\) complex, and \(G\) satisfies property FL if \(G\) admits a finite \(K(G,1)\) complex. Given a finitely dominated space \(X\) denote by \(\chi(X)\) and \(\chi^{(2)}(X)\) the ordinary Euler characteristic and the \(L^2\)-Euler characteristic of \(X\), respectively. Given a group of type FP we define \(\chi(G)=\chi(X)\) and \(\chi^{(2)}(G)=\chi^{(2)}(X)\) where \(X\) is a finitely dominated \(K(G,1)\) complex. The author explores the question of when the \(L^2\) and the usual Euler characteristic of a group coincide. The main result is to define a family of groups for which this is the case. Let \(\mathfrak X\) be the smallest class of groups with the following properties: -- If \(G\) is of type FP and satisfies the weak Bass conjecture, then \(G\in\mathfrak X\); -- if \(G\) admits a finite dimensional contractible co-compact \(G\)-CW-complex with stabilizers that are amenable and of type FP, then \(G\in\mathfrak X\); -- if \(G\in\mathfrak X\) and \(H\subset G\) is a subgroup of finite index, then \(H\in\mathfrak X\); -- if \(G\) and \(H\) are in \(\mathfrak X\), then \(G\times H\) is also in \(\mathfrak X\); -- let \(G_0,G_1\) and \(G_2\) be groups in \(\mathfrak X\) of type FP for which the amalgam \(G=G_1*_{G_0}G_2\) is defined, then \(G\in\mathfrak X\). -- let \(1\to N\to G\to Q\to 1\) be a short exact sequence of groups such that \(N\) is of type FP and \(Q\) is finitely presented and of type FL. Then if \(N\) is in \(\mathfrak X\), so is \(G\). Theorem. Let \(G\) be a group which belongs to \(\mathfrak X\) and is of type FP. Then \(\chi(G)=\chi^{(2)}(G)\).