Topological Methods in Group Theory by Ross Geoghegan (English) Paperback Book

Publisher Description

This book is about the interplay between algebraic topology and the theory of infinite discrete groups. It is a hugely important contribution to the field of topological and geometric group theory, and is bound to become a standard reference in the field. To keep the length reasonable and the focus clear, the author assumes the reader knows or can easily learn the necessary algebra, but wants to see the topology done in detail. The central subject of the book is the theory of ends. Here the author adopts a new algebraic approach which is geometric in spirit.

Notes

Aimed at advanced undergraduates and graduate students, this book is about the interplay between algebraic topology and the theory of infinite discrete groups. It is a hugely important contribution to the field of topological and geometric group theory, and is bound to become a standard reference in the field. To keep the length reasonable and the focus clear, the author assumes the reader knows or can easily learn the necessary algebra, but wants to see the topology done in detail. The central subject of the book is the theory of ends. Here the author adopts a new algebraic approach which is geometric in spirit. The author has included material which isn't covered in other textbooks. Much of the material will be of interest to group theorists who would like to know more about the topological side of their subject, as well as manifold topologists looking for basic material on proper homotopy and finite homology.

Back Cover

Topological Methods in Group Theory is about the interplay between algebraic topology and the theory of infinite discrete groups. The author has kept three kinds of readers in mind: graduate students who have had an introductory course in algebraic topology and who need a bridge from common knowledge to the current research literature in geometric, combinatorial and homological group theory; group theorists who would like to know more about the topological side of their subject but who have been too long away from topology; and manifold topologists, both high- and low-dimensional, since the book contains much basic material on proper homotopy and locally finite homology not easily found elsewhere. The book focuses on two main themes: 1. Topological Finiteness Properties of groups (generalizing the classical notions of "finitely generated" and "finitely presented"); 2. Asymptotic Aspects of Infinite Groups (generalizing the classical notion of "the number of ends of a group"). Illustrative examples treated in some detail include: Bass-Serre theory, Coxeter groups, Thompson groups, Whitehead's contractible 3-manifold, Davis's exotic contractible manifolds in dimensions greater than three, the Bestvina-Brady Theorem, and the Bieri-Neumann-Strebel invariant. The book also includes a highly geometrical treatment of Poincar

Table of Contents

Algebraic Topology for Group Theory.- CW Complexes and Homotopy.- Cellular Homology.- Fundamental Group and Tietze Transformation.- Some Techniques in Homotopy Theory.- Elementary Geometric Topology.- Finiteness Properties of Groups.- The Borel Construction and Bass-Serre Theory.- Topological Finiteness Properties and Dimension of Groups.- Homological Finiteness Properties of Groups.- Finiteness Properties of Some Important Groups.- Locally Finite Algebraic Topology for Group Theory.- Locally Finite CW Complexes and Proper Homotopy.- Locally Finite Homology.- Cohomology of CW Complexes.- Topics in the Cohomology of Infinite Groups.- Cohomology of Groups and Ends of Covering Spaces.- Filtered Ends of Pairs of Groups.- Poincaré Duality in Manifolds and Groups.- Homotopical Group Theory.- The Fundamental Group At Infinity.- Higher homotopy theory of groups.- Three Essays.- Three Essays.

Review

From the reviews:"The author of this book has done a great service to the geometric group theory community by writing a very useful and well-written book on many topics in geometric group theory that every neophyte and researcher in the field should know. … This book is suitable as a textbook for a graduate course, with many good examples and exercises. The reviewer highly recommends this book as a basic reference book for topological methods in group theory." (John G. Ratcliffe, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2008 j)"This is an interesting book on the interplay between algebraic topology and the theory of infinite discrete groups written for graduate students and group theorists who need to learn more in geometric and homological group theory. … It is a beautiful text in algebraic topology, with modern topics and which points the reader towards new research directions." (Corina Mohorianu, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1142, 2008)"This book is an invaluable resource for anyone wanting a deep understanding of topics related to the ends of groups. … there is a good deal of material in this book that does not appear anywhere else in the literature. … Geoghegan's book provides a well-presented, concrete development of geometric group theory focused on a topological approach." (John Meier, Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society, July, 2012)

Long Description

This book is about the interplay between algebraic topology and the theory of in'nite discrete groups. I have written it for three kinds of readers. First, it is for graduate students who have had an introductory course in algebraic topology and who need bridges from common knowledge to the current - search literature in geometric and homological group theory. Secondly, I am writingforgrouptheoristswhowouldliketoknowmoreaboutthetopological side of their subject but who have been too long awayfrom topology. Thirdly, I hope the book will be useful to manifold topologists, both high- and l- dimensional, as a reference source for basic material on proper homotopy and locally ?nite homology. Tokeepthelengthreasonableandthefocus clear,Iassumethatthereader knowsor can easilylearn the necessaryalgebra,but wantsto see the topology doneindetail.Scatteredthroughthebookaresectionsentitled"Reviewof..." in which I give statements, without proofs, of most of the algebraic theorems used. Occasionally the algebraic references are more conveniently included in the course of a topological discussion. All of this algebra is standard, and can be found in many textbooks. It is a mixture of homological algebra, combi- torial group theory, a little category theory, and a little module theory. I give references.

Review Quote

From the reviews:"The author of this book has done a great service to the geometric group theory community by writing a very useful and well-written book on many topics in geometric group theory that every neophyte and researcher in the field should know. … This book is suitable as a textbook for a graduate course, with many good examples and exercises. The reviewer highly recommends this book as a basic reference book for topological methods in group theory." (John G. Ratcliffe, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2008 j)"This is an interesting book on the interplay between algebraic topology and the theory of infinite discrete groups written for graduate students and group theorists who need to learn more in geometric and homological group theory. … It is a beautiful text in algebraic topology, with modern topics and which points the reader towards new research directions." (Corina Mohorianu, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1142, 2008)This book is an invaluable resource for anyone wanting a deep understanding of topics related to the ends of groups. … there is a good deal of material in this book that does not appear anywhere else in the literature. … Geoghegan's book provides a well-presented, concrete development of geometric group theory focused on a topological approach. (John Meier, Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society, July, 2012)

Feature

Covers important topics not covered elsewhere Provides an accessible review of general topology Provides in detail the topological tools needed for group theory Contains more than 40 figures Immense practical value as each chapter includes exercises throughout Self-contained and suitable for graduate courses on algebraic topology or on its applications to group theory

Description for Sales People

Aimed at advanced undergraduates and graduate students, this book is about the interplay between algebraic topology and the theory of infinite discrete groups. It is a hugely important contribution to the field of topological and geometric group theory, and is bound to become a standard reference in the field. To keep the length reasonable and the focus clear, the author assumes the reader knows or can easily learn the necessary algebra, but wants to see the topology done in detail. The central subject of the book is the theory of ends. Here the author adopts a new algebraic approach which is geometric in spirit. The author has included material which isn't covered in other textbooks. Much of the material will be of interest to group theorists who would like to know more about the topological side of their subject, as well as manifold topologists looking for basic material on proper homotopy and finite homology.

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