Representation Growth of Linear Groups

Let $\Gamma$ be a group and $r_n(\Gamma)$ the number of its $n$-dimensional irreducible complex representations. We define and study the associated representation zeta function \calz_\Gamma(s) = \suml^\infty_{n=1} r_n(\Gamma)n^{-s}. When $\Gamma$ is an arithmetic group satisfying the congruence subgroup property then \calz_\Gamma(s) has an ``Euler factorization". The "factor at infinity" is sometimes called the "Witten zeta function" counting the rational representations of an algebraic group. For these we determine precisely the abscissa of convergence. The local factor at a finite place counts the finite representations of suitable open subgroups $U$ of the associated simple group $G$ over the associated local field $K$. Here we show a surprising dichotomy: if $G(K)$ is compact (i.e. $G$ anisotropic over $K$) the abscissa of convergence goes to 0 when $\dim G$ goes to infinity, but for isotropic groups it is bounded away from 0. As a consequence, there is an unconditional positive lower bound for the abscissa for arbitrary finitely generated linear groups. We end with some observations and conjectures regarding the global abscissa

Dimension expanders

We show that there exists k \in \bbn and 0 < \e \in\bbr such that for every field $F$ of characteristic zero and for every n \in \bbn, there exists explicitly given linear transformations $T_1,..., T_k: F^n \to F^n$ satisfying the following: For every subspace $W$ of $F^n$ of dimension less or equal $\frac n2$, \dim(W+\suml^k_{i=1} T_iW) \ge (1+\e) \dim W. This answers a question of Avi Wigderson [W]. The case of fields of positive characteristic (and in particular finite fields) is left open

Subgroup growth of lattices in semisimple Lie groups

We give very precise bounds for the congruence subgroup growth of arithmetic groups. This allows us to determine the subgroup growth of irreducible lattices of semisimple Lie groups. In the most general case our results depend on the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis for number fields but we can state the following unconditional theorem: Let $G$ be a simple Lie group of real rank at least 2, different than D_4(\bbc), and let $\Gamma$ be any non-uniform lattice of $G$. Let $s_n(\Gamma)$ denote the number of subgroups of index at most $n$ in $\Gamma$. Then the limit $\lim\limits_{n\to \infty} \frac{\log s_n(\Gamma)}{(\log n)^2/ \log \log n}$ exists and equals a constant $\gamma(G)$ which depends only on the Lie type of $G$ and can be easily computed from its root system.Comment: 34 page

Proalgebraic crossed modules of quasirational presentations

We introduce the concept of quasirational relation modules for discrete and pro-$p$ presentations of discrete and pro-$p$ groups and show that aspherical presentations and their subpresentations are quasirational. In the pro-$p$-case quasirationality of pro-$p$-groups with a single defining relation holds. For every quasirational (pro-$p$)relation module we construct the so called $p$-adic rationalization, which is a pro-fd-module $\overline{R}\widehat{\otimes}\mathbb{Q}_p= \varprojlim R/[R,R\mathcal{M}_n]\otimes\mathbb{Q}_p$. We provide the isomorphisms $\overline{R^{\wedge}_w}(\mathbb{Q}_p)=\overline{R}\widehat{\otimes}\mathbb{Q}_p$ and $\overline{R_u}(\mathbb{Q}_p)=\mathcal{O}(G_u)^*$, where $R^{\wedge}_w$ and $R^{\wedge}_u$ stands for continuous prounipotent completions and corresponding prounipotent presentations correspondingly. We show how $\overline{R^{\wedge}_{w}}$ embeds into a sequence of abelian prounipotent groups. This sequence arises naturally from a certain prounipotent crossed module, the latter bring concrete examples of proalgebraic homotopy types. The old-standing open problem of Serre, slightly corrected by Gildenhuys, in its modern form states that pro-$p$-groups with a single defining relation are aspherical. Our results give a positive feedback to the question of Serre.Comment: This is a corrected version of the paper which appeared in the Extended Abstracts Spring 2015, Interactions between Representation Theory, Algebraic Topology and Commutative Algebra, Research Perspectives CRM Barcelona, Vol.5, 201

Invariable generation and the chebotarev invariant of a finite group

A subset S of a finite group G invariably generates G if G = <hsg(s) j s 2 Si > for each choice of g(s) 2 G; s 2 S. We give a tight upper bound on the minimal size of an invariable generating set for an arbitrary finite group G. In response to a question in [KZ] we also bound the size of a randomly chosen set of elements of G that is likely to generate G invariably. Along the way we prove that every finite simple group is invariably generated by two elements.Comment: Improved versio

Presentations: from Kac-Moody groups to profinite and back

We go back and forth between, on the one hand, presentations of arithmetic and Kac-Moody groups and, on the other hand, presentations of profinite groups, deducing along the way new results on both

Planar Induced Subgraphs of Sparse Graphs

We show that every graph has an induced pseudoforest of at least $n-m/4.5$ vertices, an induced partial 2-tree of at least $n-m/5$ vertices, and an induced planar subgraph of at least $n-m/5.2174$ vertices. These results are constructive, implying linear-time algorithms to find the respective induced subgraphs. We also show that the size of the largest $K_h$-minor-free graph in a given graph can sometimes be at most $n-m/6+o(m)$.Comment: Accepted by Graph Drawing 2014. To appear in Journal of Graph Algorithms and Application

Generalized triangle groups, expanders, and a problem of Agol and Wise

Answering a question asked by Agol and Wise, we show that a desired stronger form of Wise's malnormal special quotient theorem does not hold. The counterexamples are generalizations of triangle groups, built using the Ramanujan graphs constructed by Lubotzky--Phillips--Sarnak