A matrix model for random nilpotent groups

Abstract

We study random torsion-free nilpotent groups generated by a pair of random words of length $\ell$ in the standard generating set of $U_n(\mathbb{Z})$. Specifically, we give asymptotic results about the step properties of the group when the lengths of the generating words are functions of $n$. We show that the threshold function for asymptotic abelianness is $\ell = c \sqrt{n}$, for which the probability approaches $e^{-2c^2}$, and also that the threshold function for having full-step, the same step as $U_n(\mathbb{Z})$, is between $c n^2$ and $c n^3$.