A smooth version of Johnson’s problem on derivations of group algebras

Abstract

Abstract We give a description of the algebra of outer derivations of the group algebra of a finitely presented discrete group in terms of the Cayley complex of the groupoid of the adjoint action of the group. This problem is a smooth version of Johnson’s problem on derivations of a group algebra. We show that the algebra of outer derivations is isomorphic to the one-dimensional compactly supported cohomology group of the Cayley complex over the field of complex numbers. Bibliography: 34 titles.