Torsion-freeness problem for matrix groups

Abstract

We establish three results on decision problems for finitely generated matrix groups, based on fiber products: $\bullet$ The torsion-freeness problem is undecidable for subgroups of ${\mathrm{SL}}_4(\mathbb{Z})$, $\bullet$ There exists a finitely generated subgroup $G$ of ${\mathrm{SL}}_4(\mathbb{Z})$ with undecidable square root problem, $\bullet$ No algorithm can, on input a tuple of invertible matrices, output the list of marked finite quotients of the group they generate.

10 pages