We introduce a concept of tree-graded metric space and we use it to show quasi-isometry invariance of certain classes of relatively hyperbolic groups, to obtain a characterization of relatively hyperbolic groups in terms of their asymptotic cones, to find geometric properties of Cayley graphs of relatively hyperbolic groups, and to construct the first example of finitely generated group with a continuum of non-π 1 -equivalent asymptotic cones. Note that by a result of Kramer, Shelah, Tent and Thomas, continuum is the maximal possible number of different asymptotic cones of a finitely generated group, provided that the Continuum Hypothesis is true.

We prove that the word problem of a finitely generated group G is in NP (solvable in polynomial time by a non-deterministic Turing machine) if and only if this group is a subgroup of a finitely presented group H with polynomial isoperimetric function. The embedding can be chosen in such a way that G has bounded distortion in H. This completes the work started in [26] and [24].

This is the first of two papers devoted to connections between asymptotic functions of groups and computational complexity. One of the main results of this paper states that if for every m the first m digits of a real number α ≥ 4 are computable in time ≤ C2 2 Cm for some constant C > 0 then n α is equivalent ("big O") to the Dehn function of a finitely presented group. The smallest isodiametric function of this group is n 3/4α . On the other hand if n α is equivalent to the Dehn function of a finitely presented group then the first m digits of α are computable in time ≤ C2 2 2 Cm for some constant C. This implies that, say, functions n π+1 , n e 2 and n α for all rational numbers α ≥ 4 are equivalent to the Dehn functions of some finitely presented group and that n π and n α for all rational numbers α ≥ 3 are equivalent to the smallest isodiametric functions of finitely presented groups.Moreover we describe all Dehn functions of finitely presented groups ≻ n 4 as time functions of Turing machines modulo two conjectures:1. Every Dehn function is equivalent to a superadditive function.2. The square root of the time function of a Turing machine is equivalent to the time function of a Turing machine.

No abstract

We relate the problem of computing the closure of a finitely generated subgroup of the free group in the pro-V topology, where V is a pseudovariety of finite groups, with an extension problem for inverse automata which can be stated as follows: given partial one-to-one maps on a finite set, can they be extended into permutations generating a group in V? The two problems are equivalent when V is extension-closed. Turning to practical computations, we modify Ribes and Zalesskiĭ's algorithm to compute the pro-p closure of a finitely generated subgroup of the free group in polynomial time, and to effectively compute its pro-nilpotent closure. Finally, we apply our results to a problem in finite monoid theory, the membership problem in pseudovarieties of inverse monoids which are Mal'cev products of semilattices and a pseudovariety of groups. Résumé: Nous établissons un lien entre le problème du calcul de l'adhéerence d'un sous-groupe finiment engendré du groupe libre dans la topologie pro-V, oú V est une pseudovariété de groupes finis, et un probléme d'extension pour les automates inversifs qui peut être énoncé de la faç con suivante: étant données des transformations partielles injectives d'un ensemble fini, peuvent-elles être étendues en des permutations qui engendrent un groupe dans V? Les deux problèmes sont équivalents si V est fermée par extensions. Nous intéressant ensuite aux calculs pratiques, nous modifions l'algorithme de Ribes et Zalesskiĭ pour calculer l'adhérence pro-p d'un sous-groupe finiment engendré du groupe libre en temps polynomial et pour calculer effectivement sa clôture pro-nilpotente. Enfin nous appliquons nos résultats à un problème de théorie des monoïdes finis, celui de de l'appartenance dans les pseudovariétés de monoïdes inversifs qui sont des produits de Mal'cev de demi-treillis et d'une pseudovariété de groupes.

No abstract

In this paper, we continue our study of the class of diagram groups. Simply speaking, a diagram is a labelled plane graph bounded by a pair of paths (the top path and the bottom path). To multiply two diagrams, one simply identifies the top path of one diagram with the bottom path of the other diagram, and removes pairs of "reducible" cells. Each diagram group is determined by an alphabet X, containing all possible labels of edges, a set of relationscontaining all possible labels of cells, and a word w over X -the label of the top and bottom paths of diagrams. Diagrams can be considered as 2-dimensional words, and diagram groups can be considered as 2-dimensional analogue of free groups. In our previous paper, we showed that the class of diagram groups contains many interesting groups including the famous R. Thompson group F (it corresponds to the simplest set of relations { x = x 2 }), closed under direct and free products and some other constructions. In this paper we study mainly subgroups of diagram groups. We show that not every subgroup of a diagram group is itself a diagram group (this answers a question from the previous paper). We prove that every nilpotent subgroup of a diagram group is abelian, every abelian subgroup is free, but even the Thompson group contains solvable subgroups of any degree. We also study distortion of subgroups in diagram groups, including the Thompson group. It turnes out that centralizers of elements and abelian subgroups are always undistorted, but the Thompson group contains distorted soluble subgroups.

Abstract. Divergence functions of a metric space estimate the length of a path connecting two points A, B at distance ≤ n avoiding a large enough ball around a third point C. We characterize groups with non-linear divergence functions as groups having cut-points in their asymptotic cones. That property is weaker than the property of having Morse (rank 1) quasi-geodesics. Using our characterization of Morse quasi-geodesics, we give a new proof of the theorem of Farb-Kaimanovich-Masur that states that mapping class groups cannot contain copies of irreducible lattices in semi-simple Lie groups of higher ranks. It also gives a generalization of the result of Birman-Lubotzky-McCarthy about solvable subgroups of mapping class groups not covered by the Tits alternative of Ivanov and McCarthy.We show that any group acting acylindrically on a simplicial tree or a locally compact hyperbolic graph always has "many" periodic Morse quasigeodesics (i.e. Morse elements), so its divergence functions are never linear. We also show that the same result holds in many cases when the hyperbolic graph satisfies Bowditch's properties that are weaker than local compactness. This gives a new proof of Behrstock's result that every pseudo-Anosov element in a mapping class group is Morse.On the other hand, we conjecture that lattices in semi-simple Lie groups of higher rank always have linear divergence. We prove it in the case when the Q-rank is 1 and when the lattice is SL n (O S ) where n ≥ 3, S is a finite set of valuations of a number field K including all infinite valuations, and O S is the corresponding ring of S-integers.