Lemma. Elementary matrices and special linear transport [connes-0005]

Let \(R=\mathbb F_2[t]\). The subgroup \(\mathrm E_3(R)\) is generated by transvections \(I+rE_{ij}\) for \(i\ne j\). Zhou's Proposition 4.1 first uses Euclidean row reduction to identify it with \(\mathrm {SL}_3(R)\), then invokes the property-(T) theorem of [ershov2017rootgraded, Theorem 1.1 and Section 1.2]. The equality step is not part of the remaining external boundary.

Consequently the multiplicative equivalence Connes.PaperPropertyT.elementaryEquivSL3 transports property (T) from the elementary group named by the cited theorem to \(\mathrm {SL}_3(R)\).