A geometric obstruction to self-simulation for groups

Abstract: We introduce a new quasi-isometry invariant for finitely generated groups and show that every group with this property admits a subshift which is effectively closed by patterns and that cannot be realized as the topological factor of any subshift of finite type. We provide several examples of groups with the property, such as amenable groups, multi-ended groups, generalized Baumslag-Solitar groups, fundamental groups of surfaces, and cocompact Fuchsian groups.