Papers

Let H be a subgroup of a finite group G, and put n = [G:H] > 1. If p is the least prime divisor of n, we prove that the number of subgroups K with H <= K <= G is less than c(p) n^((log_p n)/4). Here c(p) is the product of (1 - p^(-j))^(-1) over all positive integers j, multiplied by the sum of p^(-z^2) over all integers z. The exponent and the constant are simultaneously optimal, already for elementary abelian p-groups of even rank. In particular, for arbitrary n > 1, the number of intermediate subgroups is less than 7.371968802 n^((log_2 n)/4). This removes the polynomial factor from the best previously known relative bound and extends the sharp absolute subgroup-counting theorem to arbitrary subgroup intervals. The group-theoretic argument is elementary. Its main ingredient is a weighted packing inequality for relative generating tuples, obtained from an escape tree on the coset space G/H.

For an ordinary finite presentation $P=\langle x_1,\ldots,x_n\mid R\rangle$, put $G(P)=F_n/\langle\langle R\rangle\rangle$. We construct a primitive-recursive predicate $V$ with $G(P)''=1 \Longleftrightarrow \exists c\in\mathbb{N}: V(P,c)=1$. Thus finite presentations of metabelian groups are recursively enumerable, answering Kourovka Problem 17.124. An effective form of the Bieri-Strebel covering construction, using signed Laurent relations and rational separation, gives a family of finitely presented metabelian groups cofinal under epimorphisms. Products of conjugates of defining relators witness these epimorphisms. The construction and enumeration theorem are formalized in Lean 4.

A recent program tries to find which functions appear as conjugator length functions. In this note, we show that any (computable) increasing function larger than $n$ appears as $\mathrm{Cl}_G$ for some finitely generated (recursively presented) group. On the other hand, we demonstrate that either $\mathrm{Cl}_G$ must be constant or $\mathrm{Cl}_G(n)\succ n$. Combining these, we obtain a complete description of which functions appear as conjugator length functions of finitely generated groups.

We introduce Kleisli convolution representations for groups, rings, and algebras. We show that their representation categories are equivalent to the usual ones for groups and finite-dimensional algebras, but for rings only recover modules whose underlying Abelian groups are free of finite rank. We also apply the Kleisli convolution representation to provide a partial answer to the Margolis–Sakurai version of the modular isomorphism problem: If $G$ is a finite $p$-group with $D_3(G)=1$ and $\gcd(m,c_G!)=1$, then $\mathbb F_{p^m}G\cong\mathbb F_{p^m}H$ implies $G\cong H$, where $c_G$ is the number of geometric connected components of $\mathrm{Aut}(\overline{\mathbb F}_pG)$.

For a finite group $G$ we write $\gamma_\infty(G)$ to denote the nilpotent residual of $G$, that is, the intersection of all terms of the lower central series. The following theorem is proved: Let $G$ be a finite group of odd order admitting an involutory automorphism $\varphi$ such that $G=[G,\varphi]$ and suppose that $\gamma_\infty(C_G(\varphi))$ has order $m$. Then the order of $\gamma_\infty(G')$ is bounded by a function depending only on $m$. This complements several earlier results on groups of odd order admitting involutory automorphisms.

The generating graph $\Gamma(G)$ of a finite group $G$ has vertex set $G\setminus\{1\}$, and two distinct vertices are adjacent if and only if they generate $G$. Breuer, Guralnick, Lucchini, Maroti and Nagy [Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 42 (2010), 621–633] conjectured that, for every finite group $G$ with at least four elements, $\Gamma(G)$ contains a Hamiltonian cycle if and only if every proper quotient of $G$ is cyclic. They proved their conjecture for sufficiently large almost simple groups with alternating socle and for all almost simple groups with sporadic socle. In this paper, we complete the asymptotic picture for almost simple groups by proving the conjecture for sufficiently large almost simple groups with socle of Lie type.

We study word maps with constants on quasisimple algebraic groups over a local field $L$. We prove that, for such a group $G=\mathbf{G}(L)$ and a word $w\in (G\ast\mathbf{F}_r)\setminus G$, either $w$ has a so-called Tomanov-small critical constant or the minimal dimension of the word image $w(G^r)\subseteq G$ of such a word is bounded from below by a function $c(G)>1$. We compute the optimal value of $c(G)$ for most quasisimple linear algebraic groups.

Let $g_1H_1,\ldots,g_nH_n$ be left cosets of subgroups of a group $G$ whose union $U$ is a proper subset of $G$. We prove that $G$ is the union of at most $2^n$ left translates of $A:=G\setminus U$. For finite $G$ this yields $|A|\ge|G|/2^n$, which settles a conjecture of Tărnăuceanu and the author. Equality $|A|=|G|/2^n$ can only hold when $A$ is a left coset of $K:=H_1\cap\ldots\cap H_n$. Moreover, every subgroup occurring in an irredundant cover of an arbitrary group by $n$ cosets has index at most $2^{n-1}$. This improves a lemma of Neumann.

The $n$-$(n+1)$-$(n+2)$ theorem, recently established by Cohen and Shusterman, says that if two groups of type $\mathrm{F}_{n+1}$ map onto a common quotient $Q$ of type $\mathrm{F}_{n+2}$ and one of the two kernels is of type $\mathrm{F}_n$, then the associated fibre product is of type $\mathrm{F}_{n+1}$. We prove a stronger, symmetric variant of this theorem when $Q$ is virtually nilpotent. More precisely, for $i\in\{1,2\}$, let $1\to N_i\to \Gamma_i\overset{\small\pi_i}{\to} Q\to 1$ be short exact sequences of groups and let $P=\{(\gamma_1,\gamma_2)\in\Gamma_1\times\Gamma_2\colon \pi_1(\gamma_1)=\pi_2(\gamma_2)\}$ be their fibre product. Let $k,l,m,n\in\mathbb N_0$, assume that $N_1$ and $N_2$ are of type $\mathrm{FP}_k$ and $\mathrm{FP}_l$, respectively, and that $\Gamma_1$ and $\Gamma_2$ are of type $\mathrm{F}_m$ and $\mathrm{F}_n$, respectively. We prove that $P$ is of type $\mathrm{F}_{\min\{k+l+1,m,n\}}$. The same formula holds with the homological finiteness properties $\mathrm{FP}_r$ in place of $\mathrm{F}_r$. This provides an alternative proof of the homotopical and homological Virtual Surjections Theorem, which gives a finiteness criterion for subgroups of direct products in terms of their embedding in the ambient product.

We study the two-generator one-relator groups defined by $\langle x_0,x_1\mid U(x_0,x_1)U(x_1,x_0)^{-1}\rangle$, and determine exactly which of them fail to contain a free subgroup of rank $2$. We show that every such group is a solvable Baumslag–Solitar group $BS(1,m)$, and that every integer value $m$ can occur. This disproves a conjecture predicting that only $m\in \{-1,0,1\}$ can occur.

We give conditions ensuring that an asymptotically rigid mapping class group, specifically a surface Houghton group $\mathcal{H}(S)$, has finite index in the asymptotically conformal modular group $\text{Mod}_0(X)$, where $X$ is a hyperbolic structure on $S$. These include geometric conditions on the pieces of the underlying rigid structure, as well as the existence in $\mathcal{H}(S)$ of an end-periodic homeomorphism which is asymptotically conformal. As a consequence, if $S$ has $n\geq 3$ ends, then $\text{Mod}_0(X)$ has type $F_{n-1}$ but not $FP_n$. We also establish analogous results for $L^p$ modular groups.

We study the continuous homology and cohomology of semisimple Lie groups with coefficients in arbitrary unitary representations. The case of irreducible representations was determined by Vogan and Zuckerman; we focus on reducible representations. The (co)homology splits into its Hausdorff and torsion parts. The Hausdorff part is governed by containment of irreducible cohomological representations. We show that the torsion part is governed by weak containment of irreducible cohomological representations. Precisely, we show that a unitary representation admits non-zero torsion if and only if there is a cohomological point which is not isolated in its support. We discuss in length examples of rank-$1$ groups, completely determining unitary cohomology for the group $\mathrm{SO}^\circ(n,1)$. For a simple Lie group, the first and fourth named authors showed that the first degree in which it obtains non-trivial cohomology for some unitary representation with no invariant vectors is related to the rank of the group. We discuss the analogous question regarding torsion cohomology, and show that the corresponding first degree could be much higher: in the presence of property (T), it is bounded below by the square root of the dimension of the symmetric space. A technical device that we use is the restriction to well chosen dense subgroups which satisfy finiteness properties, which we call cohomological witnesses. We combine it with results on the unitary cohomology of groups which satisfy finiteness properties. These results are of an independent interest.

For simple random walk on infinite clusters of Bernoulli bond percolation on Cayley graphs of hyperbolic groups, we prove that the drift and asymptotic entropy depend continuously on the percolation parameter throughout the supercritical phase. Together with the dimension formula, this implies continuity of the Hausdorff dimension of harmonic measure on the Gromov boundary.

Let $R=L_{\F_2}(1,2)$. We prove that $\GL_r(R)$ is integrally acyclic for every $r\geq1$ and that the canonical map $\St_r(R)\to\GL_r(R)$ is an isomorphism for every $r\geq3$. The unit group $R^\times$ is finitely presented, and we describe an explicit finite presentation. The homology calculation uses leaf coordinates, simultaneous extensions of ordered frames, and finite-field actions on stabilizers. The Steinberg argument lifts relations from a simply connected frame complex and refines coordinates. We also state separate criteria for the two arguments over rings of characteristic two.

We show that replication carries congruence symmetry down an explicit level tower. If a normalized replicable function $f$, holomorphic on the upper half-plane, is invariant under $\Gamma_0(N)$, then its $n$th replicate is invariant under $\Gamma_0(N/(N,n))$. Thus every replicate whose index is divisible by $N$ is the normalized modular invariant $J=j-744$. This gives a direct and classification-free proof of $J$-finality for congruence-invariant replicable functions. The argument uses only the replication identities and an elementary generation theorem for congruence subgroups; it requires neither complete replicability nor arithmetic hypotheses on the Fourier coefficients. We then apply the descent law to completely replicable functions of finite replication order. Their replication towers have a canonical terminal replicate, and the only possible terminal functions are $J$, $q^{-1}$, and $q^{-1}+q$. Moreover, a finite-order completely replicable function is $J$-final precisely when its terminal replicate is $J$, and any symmetry beyond translations forces this alternative.

The Stranded Cellular Automata (SCA) model is a grid of cells such that each cell can contain 0, 1, or 2 strands, together with two cellular automata that control when and how strands turn and cross. It was developed to study patterns occurring in fiber arts. We define a notion of what it means for a braid, in the sense of an element of a braid group, to be represented by an SCA pattern, and provide several algorithms to determine when a braid has an SCA representation with certain additional properties.

We present an explicit infinite equational basis for the six-element additively idempotent semiring $TR_6$ and prove that $TR_6$ is nonfinitely based. We also give a complete description of the subvariety lattice of the variety generated by $TR_6$, showing that it forms a four-element chain. Our results demonstrate that the variety generated by $TR_6$ is a limit variety: it is itself nonfinitely based, yet all of its proper subvarieties are finitely based. This provides a new limit variety of additively idempotent semirings, distinct from all previously known ones. In fact, $\mathsf{V}(TR_6)$ is the first explicit limit subvariety of the variety generated by the max-plus algebra $\mathbf{N}$. Moreover, $TR_6$ is not strongly nonfinitely based: it belongs to a finitely based variety generated by a finite additively idempotent semiring. Together with the six-element additively idempotent semiring $SR_6$, these are the first two finite additively idempotent semirings that are nonfinitely based but not strongly nonfinitely based. Finally, we study the variety generated by $SR_6$ and $TR_6$, showing that it is nonfinitely based and has exactly nine subvarieties, four of which are nonfinitely based and the remaining five are finitely based.

For a Coxeter system $(W,S)$ of finite rank and an involutive automorphism $\ast:W\to W$ which preserves $S$, we prove that the length-generating function $\sum_{z\in\mathbf{I}_{W,\ast}}q^{\ell(z)}$ of the set of $\ast$-twisted involutions is rational. We derive recurrence relations analogous to the well-known recurrence relations expressing the growth series $W(q):=\sum_{w\in W}q^{\ell(w)}$ in terms of the growth series $W_I(q)$ of the parabolic subgroups of $W$. Our result extends to any subset $\mathcal{C}$ of $\ast$-twisted involutions that is closed under $\ast$-twisted conjugation. We use these recurrence relations to give an alternative proof of a power-series identity for twisted involutions due to Lusztig.

Let $G$ be a finite group. The co-intersection graph $\Delta_G ^c$ of $G$ has as its vertices the nontrivial proper subgroups of $G$, with edges joining those pairs of subgroups which intersect trivially. It is clear that every connected component of $\Delta_G ^c$ has diameter at most three. In this Note, we show that when $T$ is a nonabelian finite simple group, $\Delta_T$ is connected of diameter exactly two. We also make several observations about the extent to which a finite group is determined by its co-intersection graph, and about the class of finite graphs arising as co-intersection graphs.

A group (G,*) is natural if its group operation is uniquely determined by a metric structure (G,d) on G in the following sense: every group structure (G,.) for which all right translations are isometries of (G,d) must be isomorphic to (G,*). Examples included all connected Lie groups or all groups generated by involutions (Sutherland). The orientation rigidity theorem of Leemann and de la Salle allows to upgrade the non-abelian structure theorem: every non-abelian group of cardinality not larger than the continuum that is not generalized dicyclic is natural. A consequence is that all non-metabelian Lie groups, all simple group of cardinality not larger then the continuum, all homeomorphism-, diffeomorphism -or symplectomorphism groups of manifolds, or automorphism groups probability spaces or non-abelian crystallographic groups are natural. Also the abelian structure theorem is extended: affine rigidity of Jarosz, together with Mazur-Ulam's theorem implies that the additive group of every real or complex vector spaces is natural and that all connected abelian Banach Lie groups are natural. A theorem of Babai implies that every Boolean group is natural for every cardinality. Undecided is whether C_p^k is natural for cardinals k>c and odd prime p, and whether the additive group of any field F is natural, or whether the cardinality assumption in the non-abelian structure theorem is needed. A major question is whether G^2=G implies that G is natural. This is already open for abelian groups: does 2G=G imply that G is natural?

We prove that, for every non-uniform arithmetic lattice in $\mathrm{SU}(2,1)$, its inverse images in the universal cover and in all connected finite covers are residually finite. The key new input is that every commensurability class of such lattices contains a congruence arithmetic lattice $\Gamma$ for which $$H^1_{\mathrm{cusp}}(\Gamma\backslash\mathbb B^2,\mathbb C)\ne 0.$$ In particular, the first inner cohomology of this ball quotient is non-zero. The proof uses Rogawski's endoscopic classification for $\mathrm{U}(3)$. A cohomological criterion proved previously by the author then gives the residual-finiteness result. Residual finiteness also yields multiplier systems of arbitrary denominator on suitable finite-index subgroups.

We develop a framework for studying discrete subgroups of $\mathsf{PGL}(d+1,\mathbb{R})$ via the paracomplex hyperbolic space $\mathbb{H}_\tau^d$, a rank-$1$ pseudo-Riemannian symmetric space. We characterize projective transverse, relatively Anosov, and Anosov subgroups in terms of properly discontinuous, geometrically finite, and convex-cocompact actions respectively on their weak hulls, which are canonical flow spaces in the spacelike unit tangent bundle of $\mathbb{H}_\tau^d$. A key ingredient is the construction of a Busemann-type horofunction on the spacelike unit tangent bundle with the properties needed to describe cuspidal geometry. We further prove for relatively Anosov subgroups that the geodesic flows on their weak hulls are uniformly hyperbolic, giving a relative analogue of the Axiom A property.

With help of group characters we enumerate orientably-regular maps of a given type with automorphism group isomorphic to $\PGam(2,2^p)$ for prime $p$.

The Group Epimorphism Problem (GpEpi) asks, given two finite groups $G_1$ and $G_2$, whether there exists a surjective group homomorphism, or epimorphism, from $G_1$ to $G_2$. When the input groups are given by their multiplication (Cayley) tables, the problem admits a quasipolynomial-time algorithm in general, but little is known about its complexity for structured classes of finite groups. In this paper, we study the computational complexity of GpEpi for several well-studied classes of finite groups. Our main results are polynomial-time epimorphism tests for several classes of groups for which polynomial-time isomorphism testing was previously known: Groups with Abelian normal Hall subgroups with cyclic complement; Groups with (product of) elementary Abelian normal Hall subgroup with elementary Abelian complement; and Groups with some constraints on their Abelian chief factors.

In this paper, we attempt to develop a general notion of representation theory for multiplicative Lie algebras. Consequently, we study equivalent, irreducible, and completely reducible representations. We also introduce the notion of the action of a multiplicative Lie algebra on a vector space and show that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the action and the representation. We also studied the extended structure of a multiplicative Lie algebra through a group.

Let $X$ be a finite skew brace, and let $L_\infty(X)$ be the final term of its left series. We introduce the left-nilpotent residual $\RL(X)$ and prove that $ \RL(X)=\Id_X\bigl(L_\infty(X)\bigr). $ Thus $X/\RL(X)$ is the largest left-nilpotent quotient of $X$. For skew braces of nilpotent type, we relate $\RL(X)$ to $\gamma_\infty(X,\cdot)$ and obtain conditions ensuring that $L_\infty(X)$ is an ideal, including the case where $|X|$ is cube-free. Our main results concern supplements to $\RL(X)$. We prove existence results using coprime action and Sylow and Hall theory, and give an example of order $18$ whose residual has no proper supplement. Finally, iterating $\RL$ yields the largest perfect subskew brace of $X$, and $X$ is KSV-solvable if and only if this subskew brace is zero.

We prove Qian's conjecture on element orders and irreducible character codegrees.

We prove that if H and K are subgroups of a free group F of arbitrary rank and $H'=K'\ne 1$, then $H=K$. As a consequence, if R is a noncyclic subgroup of a free group F and $R'$ is normal in F, then R is normal in F. This gives a positive answer to a problem of Shpilrain, originally posed as Problem 11.124 in the Kourovka Notebook and later appearing as Problem F15 in Kapovich-Myasnikov-Shpilrain.

We study the virtually generating graph of pro-$p$ groups. We show that various classes of pro-$p$ groups have connected virtually generating graph and we bound its diameter in these cases; e.g.\ compact subgroups of analytic groups over local fields and the Nottingham group.

For the unordered discrete configuration space $\mathrm{UD}_n(\mathsf{\Gamma})$ of $n$ particles on a connected finite graph $\mathsf{\Gamma}$, we construct an explicit factor system on its universal cover. Its factors are encoded by legal pairs, namely subgraphs equipped with particle distributions. The nesting, orthogonality, and product regions in the resulting hierarchically hyperbolic group (HHG) structure admit explicit descriptions in terms of configuration-space geometry, and we show that this structure satisfies the additional properties needed for constructing and obstructing subgroups isomorphic to right-angled Artin groups (RAAGs). Using sufficiently subdivided models, we apply this hierarchy to graph braid groups. We give a finite combinatorial formula for the maximal rank of a free abelian subgroup and show that every RAAG occurs as an undistorted subgroup of some graph braid group. For graph $2$-braid groups, we obtain stronger restrictions: every RAAG subgroup has bipartite defining graph, and the embedding problem is characterized by an induced-subgraph condition in the expanded core graph of the hierarchy. For the RAAG defined by the four-vertex path, this condition is equivalent to a finite graphical criterion on the underlying graph.