Mon, April 4, 2022
4:15 pm - 5:15 pm
Hitchcock Hall 0324
Title: PL Morse theory and finiteness properties of groups
Speaker: Mladen Bestvina (University of Utah)
Abstract: The most basic question about a given (discrete) group G is whether it is finitely generated, or finitely presented, or ... whether it has a classifying space with the finite n-skeleton (following CTC Wall we say G has type F_n). In this talk, I will present a version of Morse theory suitable for exploring the topology of a simplicial or a cubical complex and will exhibit groups of type F_n but not F_{n+1}. I will then talk about some more recent developments in this subject. This talk is based on my work with Noel Brady.