Combings of groups and the grammar of reparameterization

Journal article

A new construction of combings is used to distinguish between several previously indistinguishable classes of groups associated to the theory of automatic groups and non-positive curvature in group theory. We construct synchronously bounded combings for a class of groups that are neither bicombable nor automatic. The linguistic complexity of these combings is analysed: in many cases the language of words in the combing is an indexed language.

Authors: Bridson, M

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: COMMENTARII MATHEMATICI HELVETICI
• Volume: 78
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 752-771
• Publication date: 2003-01-01
• DOI: 10.1007/s00014-003-0776-7
• ISSN: 0010-2571
• Language: English
• Keywords: automatic groups; combings; finitely presented groups; indexed languages