Some Novikov rings that are von Neumann finite and knot-like groups. (Q851109)

Summary: We show that for a finitely generated group \(G\) and for every discrete character \(\chi\colon G\to\mathbb{Z}\) any matrix ring over the Novikov ring \(\widehat{\mathbb{Z} G}_\chi\) is von Neumann finite. As a corollary we obtain that if \(G\) is a non-trivial discrete group with a finite \(K(G,1)\) CW-complex \(Y\) of dimension \(n\) and Euler characteristics zero and \(N\) is a normal subgroup of \(G\) of type \(\text{FP}_{n-1}\) containing the commutator subgroup \(G'\) and such that \(G/N\) is cyclic-by-finite, then \(N\) is of homological type \(\text{FP}_n\) and \(G/N\) has finite virtual cohomological dimension \(\text{vcd}(G/N)=\text{cd}(G)-\text{cd}(N)\). This completes the proof of the Rapaport Strasser conjecture that for a knot-like group \(G\) with a finitely generated commutator subgroup \(G'\) the commutator subgroup \(G'\) is always free and generalises an earlier work by the author where the case when \(G'\) is residually finite was proved. Another corollary is that a finitely presentable group \(G\) with \(\text{def}(G)>0\) and such that \(G'\) is finitely generated and perfect can be only \(\mathbb{Z}\) or \(\mathbb{Z}^2\), a result conjectured by \textit{A. J. Berrick} and \textit{J. A. Hillman} [in J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 68, No. 3, 683-698 (2003; Zbl 1064.20051)].