## Electronic Journal of Probability

### Critical Constants for Recurrence on Groups of Polynomial Growth

#### Abstract

The critical constant for recurrence, $c_{rt}$, is an invariant of the quotient space $H/G$ of a finitely generated group. The constant is determined by the largest moment a probability measure on $G$ can have without the induced random walk on $H/G$ being recurrent. We present a description of which subgroups of groups of polynomial volume growth are recurrent. Using this we show that for such recurrent subgroups $c_{rt}$ corresponds to the relative growth rate of $H$ in $G$, and in particular $c_{rt}$ is either $0$, $1$ or $2$.

#### Article information

Source
Electron. J. Probab., Volume 15 (2010), paper no. 23, 710-722.

Dates
Accepted: 16 April 2010
First available in Project Euclid: 1 June 2016

Permanent link to this document
https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.ejp/1464819808

Digital Object Identifier
doi:10.1214/EJP.v15-773

Mathematical Reviews number (MathSciNet)
MR2650779

Zentralblatt MATH identifier
1226.60006

Rights

#### Citation

Revelle, David; Thompson, Russ. Critical Constants for Recurrence on Groups of Polynomial Growth. Electron. J. Probab. 15 (2010), paper no. 23, 710--722. doi:10.1214/EJP.v15-773. https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.ejp/1464819808

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