If an augmented algebra K over Q is filtered by powers of its augmentation ideal I, the associated graded algebra grK need not in general be quadratic: although it is generated in degree 1, its relations may not be generated by homogeneous relations of degree 2. In this thesis we give a sufficient criterion (called the PVH Criterion) for grK to be quadratic. When K is the group algebra of a group G, quadraticity is known to be equivalent to the existence of a (not necessarily homomorphic) universal finite type invariant for G. Thus the PVH Criterion also implies the existence of a universal finite type invariant for the group G. We apply the PVH Criterion to the group algebra of the pure virtual braid group (also known as the quasi-triangular group), and show that the corresponding associated graded algebra is quadratic, and hence that these groups have a universal finite type invariant.

If an augmented algebra K over Q is filtered by powers of its augmentation ideal I, the associated graded algebra grK need not in general be quadratic: although it is generated in degree 1, its relations may not be generated by homogeneous relations of degree 2. In this thesis we give a sufficient criterion (called the PVH Criterion) for grK to be quadratic. When K is the group algebra of a group G, quadraticity is known to be equivalent to the existence of a (not necessarily homomorphic) universal finite type invariant for G. Thus the PVH Criterion also implies the existence of a universal finite type invariant for the group G. We apply the PVH Criterion to the group algebra of the pure virtual braid group (also known as the quasi-triangular group), and show that the corresponding associated graded algebra is quadratic, and hence that these groups have a universal finite type invariant.

Le but de cette thèse est de considérer différentes questions sur les groupes projectifs et sur les arrangements de droites dans le plan projectif. Un groupe projectif est un groupe qui est isomorphe au groupe fondamental d'une variété projective lisse complexe. Pour étudier les groupes projectifs, des techniques sophistiquées de topologie algébrique et de géométrie algébrique ont été développées pendant les dernières décennies, par exemple la théorie des variétés caractéristiques combinée avec la théorie de Hodge s'est montrée être un outil puissant. Les arrangements de droites dans le plan projectif ont une place centrale dans l'étude des groupes projectifs. En effet, il y a beaucoup de questions ouvertes sur les groupes projectifs, et la théorie des arrangements d'hyperplans, en particulier celle des arrangements de droites, qui est un domaine très actif de recherche, peut suggérer des solutions à ces problèmes. En outre, les problèmes sur les groupes fondamentaux de complémentaires des arrangements d'hyperplans peuvent être réduits au cas des arrangements de droites, en utilisant le bien connu Théorème de Zariski du type de Lefschetz. Assez souvent, pour étudier les groupes projectifs ou quasi-projectifs, on considère d'abord les arrangements de droites pour obtenir des idées intuitives. Dans cette thèse nous obtenons aussi des résultats d'intérêts indépendants, par exemple sur les morphismes définis sur un produit d'espaces projectifs dans le Chapitre 4, sur la fibre générale de certains morphismes dans le Chapitre 5 et les critères sur les surfaces de type générales au Chapitre 7. / The objective of this thesis is to investigate various questions about projective groups and line arrangements in the projective plane. A projective group is a group which is isomorphic to the fundamental group of a smooth complex projective variety. To study projective groups, sophisticated techniques in algebraic topology and algebraic geometry have been developed in the passed decades, for instance, the theory of cohomology jump loci, together with Hodge theory, has been proven a powerful tool. Line arrangements in the projective plane are of special interest in the study of projective groups. Indeed, there are many open questions related to projective groups, and the theory of hyperplane arrangements, and in particular that of line arrangements, which is quite an active area of research, may provide insights for these problems. Furthermore, problems concerning the fundamental groups of the complements of hyperplane arrangements can be reduced to the case of line arrangements, due to the celebrated Zariski theorem of Lefschetz type. Very often, in the study of projective groups or quasi-projective groups, one usually considers line arrangements first to get some intuitive ideas. In this thesis, we also prove some theorems that are of independent interest and can be used elsewhere, for instance, we prove properties concerning morphisms from products of projective spaces in Chapter 4, we show that some morphisms have generic connected fibers in Chapter 5 and we give criteria for a projective surface to be of general type in Chapter 7.