An analogue of Kida's formula in graph theory

Abstract: Let $\ell$ be a rational prime and let $p:Y\rightarrow X$ be a Galois cover of finite graphs whose Galois group is a finite $\ell$-group. Consider a $\mathbb{Z}{\ell}$-tower above $X$ and its pullback along $p$. Assuming that all the graphs in the pullback are connected, one obtains a $\mathbb{Z}{\ell}$-tower above $Y$. Under the assumption that the Iwasawa $\mu$-invariant of the tower above $X$ vanishes, we prove a formula relating the Iwasawa $\lambda$-invariant of the $\mathbb{Z}{\ell}$-tower above $X$ to the Iwasawa $\lambda$-invariant of the pullback. This formula is analogous to Kida's formula in classical Iwasawa theory. We present an application to the study of structural properties of certain noncommutative pro-$\ell$ towers of graphs, based on an analogy with classical results of Cuoco on the growth of Iwasawa invariants in $\mathbb{Z}\ell^2$-extensions of number fields. Our investigations are illustrated by explicit examples.