Fundamental Groups of Compact Kahler Manifolds

Book excerpt: This book is an exposition of what is currently known about the fundamental groups of compact Kähler manifolds. This class of groups contains all finite groups and is strictly smaller than the class of all finitely presentable groups. For the first time ever, this book collects together all the results obtained in the last few years which aim to characterize those infinite groups which can arise as fundamental groups of compact Kähler manifolds. Most of these results are negative ones, saying which groups don not arise. The methods and techniques used form an attractive mix of topology, differential and algebraic geometry, and complex analysis. The book would be useful to researchers and graduate students interested in any of these areas, and it could be used as a textbook for an advanced graduate course. One of its outstanding features is a large number of concrete examples. The book contains a number of new results and examples which have not appeared elsewhere, as well as discussions of some important open questions in the field.