XXL type Artin groups are CAT(0) and acylindrically hyperbolic

We describe a simple locally CAT(0) classifying space for extra extra large type Artin groups (with all labels at least 5). Furthermore, when the Artin group is not dihedral, we describe a rank 1 periodic geodesic, thus proving that extra large type Artin groups are acylindrically hyperbolic. Together with Property RD proved by Ciabonu, Holt and Rees, the CAT(0) property implies the Baum-Connes conjecture for all XXL type Artin groups.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures. To appear in Annales de l'Institut Fourie

Higher rank lattices are not coarse median

We show that symmetric spaces and thick affine buildings which are not of spherical type $A_1^r$ have no coarse median in the sense of Bowditch. As a consequence, they are not quasi-isometric to a CAT(0) cube complex, answering a question of Haglund. Another consequence is that any lattice in a simple higher rank group over a local field is not coarse median.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures. To appear in Algebraic & Geometric Topolog

Visual limits of maximal flats in symmetric spaces and Euclidean buildings

Let X be a symmetric space of non-compact type or a locally finite, strongly transitive Euclidean building, and let B denote the geodesic boundary of X. We reduce the study of visual limits of maximal flats in X to the study of limits of apartments in the spherical building B: this defines a natural, geometric compactification of the space of maximal flats of X. We then completely determine the possible degenerations of apartments when X is of rank 1, associated to a classical group of rank 2 or to PGL(4). In particular, we exhibit remarkable behaviours of visual limits of maximal flats in various symmetric spaces of small rank and surprising algebraic restrictions that occur.Comment: 35 pages, 8 figures. Acknowledgement of support from the GEAR Network adde

Group actions on injective spaces and Helly graphs

These are lecture notes for a minicourse on group actions on injective spaces and Helly graphs, given at the CRM Montreal in June 2023. We review the basics of injective metric spaces and Helly graphs, emphasizing the parallel between the two theories. We also describe various elementary properties of groups actions on such spaces. We present several constructions of injective metric spaces and Helly graphs with interesting actions of many groups of geometric nature. We also list a few exercises and open questions at the end.Comment: Comments are welcome! v2: some references adde

Lattices, injective metrics and the K(π,1)K(\pi,1) conjecture

Starting with a lattice with an action of $\mathbb{Z}$ or $\mathbb{R}$, we build a Helly graph or an injective metric space. We deduce that the $\ell^\infty$ orthoscheme complex of any bounded graded lattice is injective. We also prove a Cartan-Hadamard result for locally injective metric spaces. We apply this to show that any Garside group acts on an injective metric space and on a Helly graph. We also deduce that the natural piecewise $\ell^\infty$ metric on any Euclidean building of type $\tilde{A_n}$ extended, $\tilde{B_n}$, $\tilde{C_n}$ or $\tilde{D_n}$ is injective, and its thickening is a Helly graph. Concerning Artin groups of Euclidean types $\tilde{A_n}$ and $\tilde{C_n}$, we show that the natural piecewise $\ell^\infty$ metric on the Deligne complex is injective, the thickening is a Helly graph, and it admits a convex bicombing. This gives a metric proof of the $K(\pi,1)$ conjecture, as well as several other consequences usually known when the Deligne complex has a CAT(0) metric.Comment: 42 pages, 4 figures. v3: the proof of Theorem 3.8 has been correcte

The 6-strand braid group is CAT(0)

We show that braid groups with at most 6 strands are CAT(0) using the close connection between these groups, the associated non-crossing partition complexes and the embeddability of their diagonal links into spherical buildings of type A. Furthermore, we prove that the orthoscheme complex of any bounded graded modular complemented lattice is CAT(0), giving a partial answer to a conjecture of Brady and McCammond.Comment: 27 pages, 13 figures. To appear in Geometriae Dedicata, the final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10711-015-0138-