Analytic properties of zeta functions and subgroup growth

Abstract

In this paper we introduce some new methods to understand the analytic behaviour of the zeta function of a group. We can then combine this knowledge with suitable Tauberian theorems to deduce results about the growth of subgroups in a nilpotent group. In order to state our results we introduce the following notation. For αa real number and N a nonnegative integer, define s_N^α(G) = sum_{n=1}^N a_n(G)/n^α. Main Theorem: Let G be a finitely generated nilpotent infinite group. (1) The abscissa of convergence α(G) of ζ_G(s) is a rational number and ζ_G(s) can be meromorphically continued to Re(s)>α(G)-δfor some δ>0. The continued function is holomorphic on the line \Re(s) = (α)G except for a pole at s=α(G). (2) There exist a nonnegative integer b(G) and some real numbers c,c' such that s_{N}(G) ~ c N^{α(G)}(\log N)^{b(G)} s_{N}^{α(G)}(G) ~ c' (\log N)^{b(G)+1} for N\rightarrow \infty .

41 pages, published version, abstract added in migration