On cohomology rings of infinite groups

Abstract

Let R be any ring (with 1), Γa group and RΓthe corresponding group ring. Let Ext_{RΓ}^{*}(M,M) be the cohomology ring associated to the RΓ-module M. Let H be a subgroup of finite index of Γ. The following is a special version of our main Theorem: Assume the profinite completion of Γis torsion free. Then an element ζin Ext_{RΓ}^{*}(M,M) is nilpotent (under Yoneda's product) if and only if its restriction to Ext_{RH}^{*}(M,M)$ is nilpotent. In particular this holds for the Thompson group. There are torsion free groups for which the analogous statement is false.