${\mathrm{GE}}_2$-rings and a graph of unimodular rows

Abstract

For a commutative ring $A$ we consider a related graph, $\Gamma (A)$, whose vertices are the unimodular rows of length $2$ up to multiplication by units. We prove that $\Gamma (A)$ is path-connected if and only if $A$ is a ${\mathrm{GE}}_2$-ring, in the terminology of P. M. Cohn. Furthermore, if $Y(A)$ denotes the clique complex of $\Gamma (A)$, we prove that $Y(A)$ is simply connected if and only if $A$ is universal for ${\mathrm{GE}}_2$. More precisely, our main theorem is that for any commutative ring $A$ the fundamental group of $Y(A)$ is isomorphic to the group $K_2(2,A)$ modulo the subgroup generated by symbols.

32 pages, including an appendix. Latest changes: Revised in line with referee's suggestions. Proof of Lemma 7.1 corrected. Some minor typos corrected