In this paper we determine the torsion free rank of the group of endotrivial modules for any finite group of Lie type, in both defining and non-defining characteristic. On our way to proving this, we classify the maximal rank $2$ elementary abelian $\ell$-subgroups in any finite group of Lie type, for any prime $\ell$, which may be of independent interest.
Let G be a finite group and let T(G) be the abelian group of equivalence classes of endotrivial kG-modules, where k is an algebraically closed field of characteristic p. We determine, in terms of the structure of G, the kernel of the restriction map from T(G) to T(S), where S is a Sylow p-subgroup of G, in the case when S is abelian. This provides a classification of all torsion endotrivial kG-modules in that case.
In a step towards the classification of endotrivial modules for quasi-simple groups, we investigate endotrivial modules for the sporadic simple groups and their covers. A main outcome of our study is the existence of torsion endotrivial modules with dimension greater than one for several sporadic groups with $p$-rank greater than one.
Suppose that $G$ is a finite group such that $\operatorname{SL}(n,q)\subseteq G \subseteq \operatorname{GL}(n,q)$, and that $Z$ is a central subgroup of $G$. Let $T(G/Z)$ be the abelian group of equivalence classes of endotrivial $k(G/Z)$-modules, where $k$ is an algebraically closed field of characteristic~$p$ not dividing $q$. We show that the torsion free rank of $T(G/Z)$ is at most one, and we determine $T(G/Z)$ in the case that the Sylow $p$-subgroup of $G$ is abelian and nontrivial. The proofs for the torsion subgroup of $T(G/Z)$ use the theory of Young modules for $\operatorname{GL}(n,q…
Let $G$ be a finite group such that $\text{SL}(n,q)\subseteq G \subseteq \text{GL}(n,q)$ and $Z$ be a central subgroup of $G$. In this paper we determine the group $T(G/Z)$ consisting of the equivalence classes of endotrivial $k(G/Z)$-modules where $k$ is an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p$ such that $p$ does not divide $q$. The results in this paper complete the classification of endotrivial modules for all finite groups of Lie Type $A$, initiated earlier by the authors.
Motivated by a recent result of Robinson showing that simple endotrivial modules essentially come from quasi-simple groups we classify such modules for finite special linear and unitary groups as well as for exceptional groups of Lie type. Our main tool is a lifting result for endotrivial modules obtained in a previous paper which allows us to apply character theoretic methods. As one application we prove that the $\ell$-rank of quasi-simple groups possessing a faithful simple endotrivial module is at most 2. As a second application we complete the proof that principal blocks of finite simple …
This paper is a major step in the classification of endotrivial modules over p-groups. Let G be a finite p-group and k be a field of characteristic p. A kG-module M is an endo-trivial module if {\End_k(M)\cong k\oplus F} as kG-modules, where F is a free module. The classification of endo-trivial modules is the crucial step for understanding the more general class of endo-permutation modules. The endo-permutation modules play an important role in module theory, in particular as source modules, and in block theory where they appear in the description of source algebras. Endo-trivial modules are …
For a torsion free finitely generated nilpotent group G we naturally associate four finite dimensional nilpotent Lie algebras over a field of characteristic zero. We show that if G is a relatively free group of some variery of nilpotent groups then all the above Lie algebras are isomorphic. As a result, any two quasi-isometric relatively free nilpotent groups are isomorphic. Moreover let L be a relatively free nilpotent Lie algebra over Q generated by X. We give L the structure of a group by means of the Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff formula and we show that the subgroup H generated by X is relativ…
The connections between the properties of associative rings that are Lie-solvable (Engel, n-Engel, locally finite, respectively) and the properties of their adjoin subgroups are investigated.
To define the notion of a generic property of finite dimensional 2-step nilpotent Lie algebras we use standard correspondence between such Lie algebras and points of an appropriate algebraic variety, where a negligible set is one contained in a proper Zariski-closed subset. We compute the maximal dimension of an abelian subalgebra of a generic Lie algebra and give a sufficient condition for a generic Lie algebra to admit no surjective homomorphism onto a non-abelian Lie algebra of a given dimension. Also we consider analogous questions for finitely generated torsion free nilpotent groups of cl…
We study exceptional torsion in the integral cohomology of a family of p-groups associated to p-adic Lie algebras. A spectral sequence E_r^{*,*}[g] is defined for any Lie algebra g which models the Bockstein spectral sequence of the corresponding group in characteristic p. This spectral sequence is then studied for complex semisimple Lie algebras like sl_n(C), and the results there are transferred to the corresponding p-group via the intermediary arithmetic Lie algebra defined over Z. Over C, it is shown that E_1^{*,*}[g]=H^*(g,U(g)^*)=H^*(ΛBG) where U(g)^* is the dual of the universal envelop…
We compute L2-invariants of certain nonuniform lattices in semisimple Lie groups by means of the Borel-Serre compactification of arithmetically defined locally symmetric spaces. The main results give new estimates for Novikov-Shubin numbers and vanishing L2-torsion for lattices in groups with even deficiency. We discuss applications to Gromov's Zero-in-the-Spectrum Conjecture as well as to a proportionality conjecture for the L2-torsion of measure equivalent groups.
We describe the structure of ``K-approximate subgroups'' of torsion-free nilpotent groups, paying particular attention to Lie groups. Three other works, by Fisher-Katz-Peng, Sanders and Tao, have appeared which independently address related issues. We comment briefly on some of the connections between these papers.
We present a constructive approach to torsion-free gradings of Lie algebras. Our main result is the computation of a maximal grading. Given a Lie algebra, using its maximal grading we enumerate all of its torsion-free gradings as well as its positive gradings. As applications, we classify gradings in low dimension, we consider the enumeration of Heintze groups, and we give methods to find bounds for non-vanishing $\ell^{q,p}$ cohomology.
We establish a bridge between homotopy groups of spheres and commutator calculus in groups, and solve in this manner the "dimension problem" by providing a converse to Sjogren's theorem: every abelian group of bounded exponent can be embedded in the dimension quotient of a group. This is proven by embedding for arbitrary $s,d$ the torsion of the homotopy group $π_s(S^d)$ into a dimension quotient, via a result of Wu. In particular, this invalidates some long-standing results in the literature, since for every prime $p$, there is some $p$-torsion in $π_{2p}(S^2)$ by a result of Serre. We explai…
According to Lazard, every p-adic Lie group contains an open pro-p subgroup which is saturable. This can be regarded as the starting point of p-adic Lie theory, as one can naturally associate to every saturable pro-p group G a Lie lattice L(G) over the p-adic integers. Essential features of saturable pro-p groups include that they are torsion-free and p-adic analytic. In the present paper we prove a converse result in small dimensions: every torsion-free p-adic analytic pro-p group of dimension less than p is saturable. This leads to useful consequences and interesting questions. For instance,…
We give a uniform construction that, on input of a recursive presentation $P$ of a group, outputs a recursive presentation of a torsion-free group, isomorphic to $P$ whenever $P$ is itself torsion-free. We use this to re-obtain a known result, the existence of a universal finitely presented torsion-free group; one into which all finitely presented torsion-free groups embed. We apply our techniques to show that recognising embeddability of finitely presented groups is $Π^{0}_{2}$-hard, $Σ^{0}_{2}$-hard, and lies in $Σ^{0}_{3}$. We also show that the sets of orders of torsion elements of finitel…
We investigate the rank gradient and growth of torsion in homology in residually finite groups. As a tool, we introduce a new complexity notion for generating sets, using measured groupoids and combinatorial cost. As an application we prove the vanishing of the above invariants for Farber sequences of subgroups of right angled groups. A group is right angled if it can be generated by a sequence of elements of infinite order such that any two consecutive elements commute. Most non-uniform lattices in higher rank simple Lie groups are right angled. We provide the first examples of uniform (co-co…
Let G be a Lie group over a local field of positive characteristic which admits a contractive automorphism f (i.e., the forward iterates f^n(x) of each group element x converge to the neutral element 1). We show that then G is a torsion group of finite exponent and nilpotent. We also obtain results concerning the interplay between contractive automorphisms of Lie groups over local fields, contractive automorphisms of their Lie algebras, and positive gradations thereon. Some of the results even extend to Lie groups over arbitrary complete ultrametric fields.
We consider a natural class of long range random walks on torsion free nilpotent groups and develop limit theorems for these walks. Given the original discrete group $Γ$ and a random walk $(S_n)_ {n\ge1}$ driven by a certain type of symmetric probability measure $μ$, we construct a homogeneous nilpotent Lie group $G_\bullet(Γ,μ)$ which carries an adapted dilation structure and a stable-like process $(X_t)_{ t\ge0}$ which appears in a Donsker-type functional limit theorem as the limit of a rescaled version of the random walk. Both the limit group and the limit process on that group depend on th…
In 2002 Polterovich has notably established that on closed aspherical symplectic manifolds, Hamiltonian diffeomorphisms of finite order, which we call Hamiltonian torsion, must in fact be trivial. In this paper we prove the first higher-dimensional Hamiltonian no-torsion theorems beyond the symplectically aspherical case. We start by showing that closed symplectic Calabi-Yau and negative monotone symplectic manifolds do not admit Hamiltonian torsion. Going still beyond topological constraints, we prove that every closed positive monotone symplectic manifold $(M,ω)$ admitting Hamiltonian torsio…