Gromov's theorem on groups of polynomial growth and elementary logic (Q801039)

The authors give a new proof of a theorem which is a slight extension of Gromov's theorem on groups with polynomial growth which reads as follows. If a group \(\Gamma\) with finite generating set \(X\) has growth function \(G_ X\) with \(G_ X(n)\leq c\cdot n^ d\) for infinitely many \(n\) and positive constants \(c,d\) then \(\Gamma\) has a nilpotent subgroup of finite index. The main point where this proof deviates from those known previously is the construction of a locally compact metric space on which a subgroup of finite index of a group with polynomial growth is acting. In the present paper this is achieved by using non-standard analysis.