Information About

Multiplicator




:H_2(G, {\Bbb Z}).

If the group is presented in terms of a Free Group ''F'' on a set of generators, and a Normal Subgroup ''R'' generated by a set of relations on the generators, so that

:G \simeq F/R,

then by Hopf's integral homology formula we have that the Schur multiplier is

:(R \cap F )/ R ,

where B is the group generated by the Commutator s

aba


for a in A and b in B. It can also be expressed in terms of cohomology, as

:H^2(G, \Bbb{C}^ imes)

where ''G'' acts trivially on the multiplicative group of the nonzero complex numbers.

Schur multipliers are of especial interest when ''G'' is a Perfect Group (a group equal to its own commutator subgroup). A perfect group has a unique perfect maximal Central Extension , or universal covering group, whose center contains the Schur multiplier and whose quotient by it is the perfect group.

The Schur multiplier is due to Issai Schur , and can be said to represent the beginning of Group Cohomology (or at least of the higher groups ''H''2 etc.).


REFERENCES


  • Karpilovsky, Gregory: ''The Schur Multiplier'', Oxford University Press, 1987, ISBN 0198535546.