LERF and the Lubotzky-Sarnak conjecture (Q945631)

Let \(X\) be a finite graph with vertex set \(V(X)\). For \(A\subseteq V(X)\) let \(\delta A\) denote those edges with one endpoint in \(A\) and one endpoint not in \(A\). The Cheeger constant of \(X\) is \[ h(X)=\min\{ | \delta A| /| A| : A\subset V(X), 0<| A| \leq| V(X)| /2\}. \] Let \(G\) be a group with a finite symmetric generating set \(S\). For any finite index subgroup \(G_i\) of \(G\) let \(X(G/G_i;S)\) be the Schreier coset graph of \(G/G_i\) with respect to \(S\). Then \(G\) is said to have Property \(\tau\) \textit{with respect to} a set of subgroups \(\{ G_i\}\) if inf\(_i h(X(G/G_i;S))>0\). This is independent of the choice of \(S\). \(G\) has \textit{Property} \(\tau\) if it has Property \(\tau\) with respect to the set of all subgroups of finite index in \(G\). In this paper a method is given to show for certain hyperbolic 3-manifolds not to have Property \(\tau\). This is relevant in the context of the following Lubotzky-Sarnak conjecture: The fundamental group of any finite volume hyperbolic \(n\)-manifold does not have Property \(\tau\). Theorem 1.2 Let \(M=H^3/\Gamma\) be a closed orientable hyperbolic 3-manifold. Assume that every infinite index, geometrically finite subgroup of \(\Gamma \) is engulfed in \(\Gamma \). Then the Lubotzky-Sarnak conjecture holds for \(\Gamma\). An immediate corollary is: Corollary 1.3 If \(\Gamma \) is LERF, then the Lubotzky-Sarnak conjecture holds for \(\Gamma \). A group \(\Gamma \) is called \textit{large} if \(\Gamma \) has a finite index subgroup projecting onto \(F_2\), the free group of rank 2. Corollary 1.5 Assume that every word hyperbolic group is residually finite. The every arithmetic Kleinian group is large. Let \(h(X)\) be the Cheeger constant of a Riemannian manifold \(X\), possibly with infinite volume. Theorem 1.6 Let \(M\) be a closed hyperbolic 3-manifold. Then there is a sequence of (possibly infinite) coverings \(M_i\) for which \(h(M_i)\to 0\).