\(p\)-adic limits of renormalized logarithmic Euler characteristics (Q784889)

If \(\Gamma\) is a discrete group and \(M\) a \(\mathbb Z\Gamma\)-module (i.e., a representation of \(\Gamma\) in a \(\mathbb Z\)-module, or equivalently a module over the group ring \(\mathbb Z\Gamma\)) then the cohomology groups \(H_i(\Gamma, M)\) for \(i \ge 0\) are defined. If these groups are all finite and only finitely many of them are nonzero then one can define a multiplicative Euler characteristic \(\chi(\Gamma, M)\) by putting \[ \chi(\Gamma, M) = \prod_{i=0}^{+\infty} |H_i(\Gamma, M)|^{(-1)^i}. \] This is not as well-behaved as the ordinary Euler characteristic. In particular it (or better its logarithm) is not multiplicative in finite covers. On the other hand, it is expected that \(\log \prod_{i=0}^{+\infty} |H_i(\Gamma, M)|^{(-1)^i}\) is ``roughly'' multiplicative in certain circumstances. Namely, if \(\Gamma_n\) is a sequence of finite-index subgroups in \(\Gamma\) such that every non-trivial element in \(\Gamma\) lies in only finitely many of them then the expectation would be that \(\lim_{n \to +\infty} \left( \log\chi(\Gamma_n, M) / [\Gamma:\Gamma_n] \right)\) exists, and can be related to certain \(L^2\)-invariants of \(\Gamma\). This is related to the so-called approximation problem for the \(L^2\)-torsion, for which a recent survey is given in [\textit{W. Lück}, EMS Surv. Math. Sci. 3, No. 2, 269--344 (2016; Zbl 1380.57032)]. In this paper the author studies a similar problem when \(\log\) is replaced by the \(p\)-adic logarithm (which amounts to studying the \(p\)-torsion part of the homology groups \(H_i(\Gamma_n, M)\)). He also provides an algebraic condition on the module \(M\) so that the multiplicative Euler characteristic exists, namely that \(M\) vanishes when scalars are extended to the ring of convergent series in \(\mathbb Q_p[[\Gamma]]\). This is for example (trivially) the case when \(M\) is torsion (as a \(\mathbb Z\)-module) but more generally occurs when the sequence of submodules \(p^iM, i \ge 0\) stabilises. When Euler characteristics are defined he proves the convergence of the sequence \(\log\chi(\Gamma_n, M) / [\Gamma:\Gamma_n]\) and expresses the limit as a \(p\)-adic Reidemeister torsion (analogue of the \(L^2\)-torsion which appears in the more classical setting). Note that the proof of this is much simpler than that of the corresponding statements over \(\mathbb C\), which are currently known (in full generality) only when \(\Gamma\) is virtually cyclic. The paper also contains further discussion of the torsion for modules associated with algebraic dynamical systems, in particular in the case where \(\Gamma\) is a free abelian group.