Normal Abelian subgroups and Euler characteristic (Q911102)

Let \(p: \tilde X\to X\) be a regular covering over a finite complex X. Assume that the group of its deck transformations \(G(\tilde X| X)\) contains a normal abelian subgroup A which is not a torsion group. Assume moreover that for each \(n\geq 0\) either \(H_ n(X;{\mathbb{Q}})\) is finite dimensional or there is an element of infinite order \(a_ n\in A\) which acts nilpotently on \(H_ n(\tilde X;{\mathbb{Q}})\). The main result says that under these assumptions \(\chi (X)=0\). This generalizes an earlier result of \textit{B. Eckmann} [Lect. Notes Math. 1298, 120-123 (1987; Zbl 0643.55010)]. Eckmann's result was based on a purely algebraic theorem of \textit{S. Rosset} [Math. Z. 185, 211-215 (1984; Zbl 0549.57010)]. The author's extension follows from her generalization of Rosset's theorem which is a specialization of the above statement to \(X\cong K(G,1)\), where G is a discrete group. The proof of this fact relies heavily on the following unpublished result of the author. Let k be a subfield on \({\mathbb{C}}\) and G be a group of type \(FL_ k\). Suppose N is a normal subgroup of G such that \(Q:=G/N\) contains a nontrivial abelian torsion free subgroup A. Denote by \(R(A;Q)\) the localized group ring \((kA\setminus \{0\})^{- 1}kQ\). If \(R(A;Q)\otimes_{kQ}H_*(N;k)\) is \(R(A,Q)\)-free then \[ \chi_ k(G)=\chi_{R(A,Q)}(R(A,Q)\otimes_{kQ}H_*(N;k)). \]