Three-dimensional maps and subgroup growth

In this paper we derive a generating series for the number of cellular complexes known as pavings or three-dimensional maps, on n darts, thus solving an analogue of Tutte’s problem in dimension three. The generating series we derive also counts free subgroups of index n in $$\Delta ^+ = {\mathbb {Z}}_2*{\mathbb {Z}}_2*{\mathbb {Z}}_2$$ Δ + = Z 2 ∗ Z 2 ∗ Z 2 via a simple bijection between pavings and finite index subgroups which can be deduced from the action of $$\Delta ^+$$ Δ + on the cosets of a given subgroup. We then show that this generating series is non-holonomic. Furthermore, we provide and study the generating series for isomorphism classes of pavings, which correspond to conjugacy classes of free subgroups of finite index in $$\Delta ^+$$ Δ + . Computational experiments performed with software designed by the authors provide some statistics about the topology and combinatorics of pavings on $$n\le 16$$ n ≤ 16 darts.

BRANCH GROUPS, ORBIT GROWTH, AND SUBGROUP GROWTH TYPES FOR PRO- GROUPS

In their book Subgroup Growth, Lubotzky and Segal asked: What are the possible types of subgroup growth of the pro- $p$ group? In this paper, we construct certain extensions of the Grigorchuk group and the Gupta–Sidki groups, which have all possible types of subgroup growth between $n^{(\log n)^{2}}$ and $e^{n}$ . Thus, we give an almost complete answer to Lubotzky and Segal’s question. In addition, we show that a class of pro- $p$ branch groups, including the Grigorchuk group and the Gupta–Sidki groups, all have subgroup growth type $n^{\log n}$ .

Large normal subgroup growth and large characteristic subgroup growth

The fastest normal subgroup growth type of a finitely generated group is {n^{\log n}}. Very little is known about groups with this type of growth. In particular, the following is a long standing problem: Let Γ be a group and Δ a subgroup of finite index. Suppose Δ has normal subgroup growth of type {n^{\log n}}. Does Γ have normal subgroup growth of type {n^{\log n}}? We give a positive answer in some cases, generalizing a result of Müller and the second author and a result of Gerdau. For instance, suppose G is a profinite group and H an open subgroup of G. We show that if H is a generalized Golod–Shafarevich group, then G has normal subgroup growth of type {n^{\log n}}. We also use our methods to show that one can find a group with characteristic subgroup growth of type {n^{\log n}}.