Subgroup graph methods for presentations of finitely generated groups and the contractibility of associated simplicial complexes

DOI10.1016/J.JALGEBRA.2017.05.016MaRDI QIDQ2362574zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Cora Welsch

Publication date 10 July 2017

Published in Journal of Algebra (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1603.06804

zbMATH Keywords

combinatorial group theorycoset posetfinite index subgroupsfinitely generated groupsorder and nerve complexpresentationssubgroup graph

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Graphs and abstract algebra (groups, rings, fields, etc.) (05C25) Combinatorial aspects of simplicial complexes (05E45) Sylow subgroups, Sylow properties, (pi)-groups, (pi)-structure (20D20) Arithmetic and combinatorial problems involving abstract finite groups (20D60) Subgroup theorems; subgroup growth (20E07) Generators, relations, and presentations of groups (20F05)

Abstract: In this article we generalize the theory of subgroup graphs of subgroups of free groups to finite index subgroups $H$ of finitely generated groups $G$. We study and prove various properties of $H$ in relation to its subgroup graph $Gamma(H)$. For a finitely generated group $G$ we consider the poset $P_{extfi}(G)$ of all right cosets of all proper finite index subgroups of $G$. We use the theory of subgroup graphs to prove that for many finitely generated infinite groups the order complex $Delta{P}_{extfi}(G)$ and the corresponding nerve complex are contractible.

Review text

\textit{I. Kapovich} and \textit{A. Myasnikov} [J. Algebra 248, No. 2, 608--668 (2002; Zbl 1001.20015)] described techniques to study subgroups of free groups via graphs and their foldings. The author of the present paper generalizes these techniques to study finite index subgroups of finitely generated (though not necessarily finitely presented) groups. For each such group \(G\) with presentation \(\langle\, X \mid R\,\rangle\) and each subgroup \(H\) of \(G\) of finite index \(n\), she associates a connected graph with \(n\) vertices whose edges are labeled by elements of \(X\) and whose closed paths reflect the relators \(R\). This \textit{subgroup graph}, which is revealed to be the Schreier coset graph of \(H\) with respect to \(X\), carries much essential information about \(H\), and is unique up to isomorphism in this category. Furthermore, she identifies \(H\) as the language subgroup (in the sense of graph automata) of the subgroup graph. A first collection of applications describe how various properties of subgroups -- for example, the conjugacy of subgroups and the normality of a subgroup -- are reflected in their subgroup graphs. Note that the main results on subgroup graphs apply to finite groups and their subgroups. The author shows how subgroup graphs identify Sylow (and, more generally, Hall) subgroups of a finite group, and uses these tools to prove an easy (and known) divisibility property involving a finite group with a malnormal subgroup (i.e. a group with a Frobenius kernel). The second application relates to the poset \(P_{\mathrm{fi}}(G)\) of cosets of proper finite index subgroups of \(G\) under inclusion and its associated simplicial complex of chains \(\Delta(P_{\mathrm{fi}}(G))\). When \(G\) is finite, \(\Delta(P_{\mathrm{fi}}(G))\) is known not to be contractible. The author exhibits sufficient conditions for contractibility of \(\Delta(P_{\mathrm{fi}}(G))\) for a finitely generated group in terms of the existence of a family of subgroup graphs of selected finite index subgroups of \(G\). She then verifies this condition for a number of families of infinite groups, including free groups, free abelian groups, Artin groups, pure braid groups, Baumslag-Solitar groups, and infinite virtually cyclic groups. Furthermore, the contractibility is inherited by finite index subgroups of these groups, and preserved by their free products, direct products, and semidirect products. The foundational results on subgroup graphs are straightforward and for the most part follow Kapovich and Myasnikov [loc. cit.]. It's surprising that this generalization has never been developed as it is here.

Recommendations

• On coset posets, nerve complexes and subgroup graphs of finitely generated groups
• ON THE SUBGROUP SEPARABILITY OF THE FUNDAMENTAL GROUP OF A FINITE GRAPH OF GROUPS
• A combinatorial technique for simplicial complexes and some applications to finite groups
• Subgroup Separability of Graphs of Free Groups with Cyclic Edge Groups
• Subgroup separability of graphs of abelian groups

Cites work

• Connectivity of the coset poset and the subgroup poset of a group
• Fuchsian groups, coverings of Riemann surfaces, subgroup growth, random quotients and random walks.
• Higher generation by subgroups
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 863503 (Why is no real title available?)
• Order complexes of coset posets of finite groups are not contractible.
• Stallings foldings and subgroups of free groups
• The coset poset and probabilistic zeta function of a finite group
• Topology of finite graphs

Cited in

(6)

• On a property of fundamental groups of graphs of finite groups
• Stallings foldings and subgroups of free groups
• Telescopic groups and symmetries of combinatorial maps
• On coset posets, nerve complexes and subgroup graphs of finitely generated groups
• Obtaining presentations from group actions without making choices.
• Subrepresentations in the homology of finite covers of graphs

This page was built for publication: Subgroup graph methods for presentations of finitely generated groups and the contractibility of associated simplicial complexes

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2362574)