Annular Dehn functions of groups

Abstract

For a finite presentation of a group, or more generally, a two-complex, we define a function analogous to the Dehn function that we call the annular Dehn function. This function measures the combinatorial area of maps of annuli into the complex as a function of the lengths of the boundary curves. A finitely presented group has solvable conjugacy problem if and only if its annular Dehn function is recursive.As with standard Dehn functions, the annular Dehn function may change with change of presentation. We prove that the type of function obtained is preserved by change of presentation. Further we obtain upper bounds for the annular Dehn functions of free products and, more generally, amalgamations or HNN extensions over finite subgroups.