The Geometry of Rewriting Systems

Stephen J. Pride
Mathematics Department, University of Glasgow
University Gardens
Glasgow G12 8QW, Scotland, U.K.
e-mail: sjp@maths.gla.ac.uk

Abstract:

In this talk I will give a survey of recent developments in the geometric/topological study of string rewriting systems. The talk will cover the following:

(1) geometric objects associated with string rewriting systems;

(2) geometric finiteness conditions and associated isoperimetric functions;

(3) using groups constructed by Bestvina/Brady to construct rewriting systems with unusual finiteness behaviour;

(4) work of Gersten/Riley on "shelling" in group theory, looked at from the perspective of rewriting systems.