Mon, 13 Feb 2012

15:45 - 16:45
L3

The topology and geometry of automorphism groups of free groups II

Karen Vogtmann
(Cornell)
Abstract

Free groups, free abelian groups and fundamental groups of

closed orientable surfaces are the most basic and well-understood

examples of infinite discrete groups. The automorphism groups of

these groups, in contrast, are some of the most complex and intriguing

groups in all of mathematics. In these lectures I will concentrate

on groups of automorphisms of free groups, while drawing analogies

with the general linear group over the integers and surface mapping

class groups. I will explain modern techniques for studying

automorphism groups of free groups, which include a mixture of

topological, algebraic and geometric methods.

Mon, 20 Oct 2008
15:30
L3

"Lattices acting on Platonic polygonal complexes and Fuchsian buildings"

Anne Thomas
(Cornell)
Abstract

A polygonal complex $X$ is Platonic if its automorphism group $G$ acts transitively on the flags (vertex, edge, face) in $X$. Compact examples include the boundaries of Platonic solids.  Noncompact examples $X$ with nonpositive curvature (in an appropriate sense) and three polygons meeting at each edge were classified by \'Swi\c{a}tkowski, who also determined when the group $G=Aut(X)$, equipped with the compact-open topology, is nondiscrete.  For example, there is a unique $X$ with the link of each vertex the Petersen graph, and in this case $G$ is nondiscrete.  A Fuchsian building is a two-dimensional also determined when the group $G=Aut(X)$, equipped with the compact-open topology, is nondiscrete.  For example, there is a unique $X$ with the link of each vertex the Petersen graph, and in this case $G$ is nondiscrete.  A Fuchsian building is a two-dimensional hyperbolic building.  We study lattices in automorphism groups of Platonic complexes and Fuchsian buildings.  Using similar methods for both cases, we construct uniform and nonuniform lattices in $G=Aut(X)$.  We also show that for some $X$ the set of covolumes of lattices in $G$ is nondiscrete, and that $G$ admits lattices which are not finitely generated.  In fact our results apply to the larger class of Davis complexes, which includes examples in dimension > 2.

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