Related papers: Musings on Magnus

Let M be a compact surface, either orientable or non-orientable. We study the lower central and derived series of the braid and pure braid groups of M in order to determine the values of n for which B\_n(M) and P\_n(M) are residually…

In this paper we give an explicit formula for the number of subgroups of the modular group of a given index that are genus zero and torsion-free and a formula for their conjugacy classes. We do so by exhibiting a correspondence between…

We compute the characteristic varieties and the Alexander polynomial of a finitely generated nilpotent group. We show that the first characteristic variety may be used to detect nilpotence. We use the Alexander polynomial to deduce that the…

Let G be a simple, simply-connected algebraic group over the complex numbers with Lie algebra $\mathfrak g$. The main result of this article is a proof that each irreducible representation of the fundamental group of the orbit O through a…

In [11] Sklinos proved that any uncountable free group is not $\aleph_1$-homogenenous. This was later generalized by Belegradek in [1] to torsion-free residually finite relatively free groups, leaving open whether the assumption of residual…

Let $\mathfrak{Nil}$ be the class of nilpotent groups. This article explores the finiteness of meta and para-$\mathfrak{Nil}$-Hamiltonian groups or their derived subgroups when these groups contain a soluble subgroup of finite index or a…

The purpose of this note is to exhibit some simple and basic constructions for smooth compact transformation groups, and some of their most immediate applications to geometry.

The set of homology cobordisms from a surface to itself with markings of their boundaries has a natural monoid structure. To investigate the structure of this monoid, we define and study its Magnus representation and Reidemeister torsion…

Let $k$ be a field of characteristic different from $2$ and let $G$ be a nonabelian residually torsion-free nilpotent group. It is known that $G$ is an orderable group. Let $k(G)$ denote the subdivision ring of the Malcev-Neumann series…

We first show that every group-theoretical category is graded by a certain double coset ring. As a consequence, we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for a group-theoretical category to be nilpotent. We then give an explicit…

Nilpotent quantum mechanics provides a powerful method of making efficient calculations. More importantly, however, it provides insights into a number of fundamental physical problems through its use of a dual vector space and its explicit…

We study equations over torsion-free groups in terms of their `t-shape' (the occurences of the variable t in the equation). A t-shape is good if any equation with that shape has a solution. It is an outstanding conjecture that all t-shapes…

We construct first examples of non-trivial groups without non-cyclic free subgroups whose reduced $C^\ast$-algebra is simple and has unique trace. This answers a question of de la Harpe. Both torsion and torsion free examples are provided.…

This paper provides a preparatory introduction to torsors, written with a view toward later applications in the author's work. Rather than aiming at a comprehensive survey, the exposition focuses on those aspects of torsors that are most…

This is partly an expository paper, where the authors' work on pseudoriemannian Einstein metrics on nilpotent Lie groups is reviewed. A new criterion is given for the existence of a diagonal Einstein metric on a nice nilpotent Lie group.…

We develop methods to control the first-order theory of groups arising as certain direct limits of torsion-free hyperbolic groups, answering several questions in the literature. We construct simple torsion-free Tarski monsters $\Gamma$…

Let $G$ be a group hyperbolic relative to a finite collection of subgroups $\mathcal P$. Let $\mathcal F$ be the family of subgroups consisting of all the conjugates of subgroups in $\mathcal P$, all their subgroups, and all finite…

In this article we provide evidence for a well-known conjecture which states that quasi-isometric simply-connected nilpotent Lie groups are isomorphic. We do so by constructing new examples which are rigid in the sense that whenever they…

A theorem by Hall asserts that the multiplication in torsion free nilpotent groups of finite Hirsch length can be facilitated by polynomials. In this note we exhibit explicit Hall polynomials for the torsion free nilpotent groups of Hirsch…

In this article we prove that the set of torsion-free groups acting by isometries on a hyperbolic metric space whose entropy is bounded above and with a compact quotient is finite. The number of such groups can be estimated in terms of the…