Separating quasi-convex subgroups in 7-systolic groups. (Q931863)

For an integer \(k\geq 6\), a \(k\)-systolic complex is a simply connected simplicial complex satisfying a certain combinatorial condition which, roughly speaking, says that there is a lower bound for the lengths of essential closed paths in a one-skeleton of every link. This notion is a combinatorial analogue of nonpositive curvature. It was introduced by \textit{T. Januskiewicz} and \textit{J. Świątkowski} [in their paper Publ. Math., Inst. Hautes Étud. Sci. 104, 1-85 (2006; Zbl 1143.53039)], and independently and in another form by \textit{F. Haglund} [Complexes simpliciaux hyperboliques de grande dimension, Orsay preprint (2003)]. A group acting properly discontinuously and cocompactly by simplicial automorphisms of a \(k\)-systolic complex is called a \(k\)-systolic group. Simplicial positive curvature corresponds to 6-systolicity and if \(m\geq n\) then an \(m\)-systolic complex or group is also \(n\)-systolic. The main result of the paper under review is the following Theorem: Let \(G\) be a 7-systolic group acting properly discontinuously and cocompactly by simplicial automorphisms on a 7-systolic space \(X\), and let \(H\) be a quasi-convex subgroup of \(G\). Then, there is a convex subcomplex \(Y\subset X\) which is invariant and cocompact under the action of \(H\). The authors use this theorem to obtain quasi-convexity and separability results for subgroups in 7-systolic groups. Their study uses the notion of a convex subcomplex in a 6-systolic complex, which has its origin in the papers by Haglund and by Januskiewicz \& Świątkowski that were mentioned above. Some of the results are motivated by the study of separability properties of quasi-convex subgroups of groups that was initiated by D. Wise and then developed by Wise and several co-authors.