All Questions
54 questions
3
votes
0
answers
228
views
What is known about the map $\text{Mod}_g^1 \rightarrow \text{Aut}(F_{2g})$?
Follow up question, edited in on 12/20 below:
Letting $\text{Mod}_g^1$ be the mapping class group of a surface with one boundary component (and basepoint on the boundary) and identify its fundamental ...
- 181
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Recognizing free groups
While I’m aware (and as it was pointed out in the comments) it is generally undecidable whether a given presentation represents a free group, I’m interested in criteria that nevertheless ensure that ...
- 1,174
1
vote
0
answers
132
views
A generalisation of residual finiteness?
A group $\Gamma$ is Residually Finite (RF) if
$\forall g \neq e \in \Gamma$ there is a homomorphism $h: \Gamma \to G$ where $G$ is a finite group such that $h(g) \neq e$. Free groups are known to be ...
- 305
2
votes
0
answers
142
views
Further questions to limit groups and an article of Fujiwara and Sela
I already have asked a question to the following article:
Koji Fujiwara, Zlil Sela, The rates of growth in a hyperbolic group, Invent. math. 233 (2023) pp 1427–1470, doi:10.1007/s00222-023-01200-w, ...
- 309
9
votes
1
answer
377
views
Morse theory on outer space via the lengths of finitely many conjugacy classes
Let $F_n$ be the free group on letters $\{x_1,\ldots,x_n\}$ and let $X_n$ be the (reduced) outer space of rank $n$. Points of $X_n$ thus correspond to pairs $(G,\mu)$, where $G$ is a finite connected ...
- 93
13
votes
0
answers
223
views
Are there free and discrete subgroups of $\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb{R}) \times \mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb{R})$ that are not Schottky on any factor?
$\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}$Does there exist a free and discrete subgroup $\Gamma < \SL_2(\mathbb{R}) \times \SL_2(\mathbb{R})$ such that neither $\pi_1(\Gamma)$ nor $\pi_2(\Gamma)$ is free and ...
- 1,574
17
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Examples of locally hyperbolic groups
It is well-known that a subgroup of a hyperbolic group need not be hyperbolic. Let us say that a (finitely generated) group $G$ is locally hyperbolic if all its finitely generated subgroups are (...
- 383
5
votes
2
answers
288
views
If $K\rtimes \mathbb{Z}$ is a finitely generated group but $K$ isn't, must the fixed points of $1_\mathbb{Z}$ be a finitely generated group?
I've copied over this question from what I asked on StackExchange, in the hope that an expert here can readily answer the question.
Is there an example of a group $G=K\rtimes \mathbb{Z}$ satisfying ...
- 211
8
votes
0
answers
186
views
Uniform amenability at infinity
Let's recall that a group $G$ is amenable if for any finite subset $E\subset G$ and any $\epsilon>0$
there is a finite subset $F\subset G$ such that
$$\max_{s\in E} |s F \mathbin{\triangle} F| \le \...
- 10.1k
2
votes
2
answers
438
views
Some questions on a paper of Baumslag and Solitar
I was recently trying taking a look at the paper "Some two-generator one-relator non-hopfian groups" by Baumslag and Solitar where they introduce the groups now known as the Baumslag-Solitar ...
- 5,349
7
votes
3
answers
523
views
Membership to double cosets in free groups
Is there an elementary and efficient algorithm for testing the membership to a double coset of f.g. subgroups in a free group?
Has this membership problem been implemented in GAP/Magma?
More ...
- 3,181
4
votes
1
answer
338
views
outer automorphism classification
I am trying to understand Bestvina's "A Bers-like proof of the existence of train tracks for free group automorphisms". I'm going to ask a probably trivial question ... Here we go:
The automorphism $\...
- 257
7
votes
0
answers
319
views
How does Outer Space look like without a simplex?
Considering the simplicial structure of Culler and Vogtmanns Outer Space $CV_n$. The question is now:
Let $\Delta \subset CV_n$ be a closed simplex of dimension $3n-4$ or $3n-5$, how does $CV_n \...
- 255
12
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Road map to learn about $\operatorname{Out}{F_n}$
I'm a last year undergraduate student and I have taken a graduate course in geometric group theory.
I'd like to start reading some more advanced stuff in geometric group theory and in particular about ...
- 257
7
votes
0
answers
260
views
Generating the monoid of injective endomorphisms of the free group
Let $F$ be the free group of rank $2$ (or any finite rank if this does not matter). The set of injective group endomorphisms $F\to F$ forms a monoid $M$ by compositions. Is there a simple looking set ...
- 121
5
votes
0
answers
192
views
Description of quasimorphisms of the free group
Let $F$ be a free group of finite rank with a fixed basis and corresponding word metric. Let $Q = Q^0_h(F, \mathbb{R})$ be the space of real homogenous quasimorphisms that vanish on the basis of $F$. ...
- 435
6
votes
4
answers
676
views
What is a geodesic in Outer space?
The Culler-Vogtmann Outer space $\text{CV}_n$ is an analogue of Teichmuller space for the group $\text{Out}(F_n)$.
Is there any notion of a geodesic path in $\text{CV}_n$? Are there different ...
- 4,164
7
votes
3
answers
620
views
growth of a free group automorphism is same for finite index subgroups?
Let $X=\{x_1,\dots,x_N\}$ and $F=F(X)$ be a free group generated by $X$. Let $\phi\colon F\to F$ be an automorphism of $F$. Define a growth function of $\phi$ as:
$$
\operatorname{gr}_{\phi,X}(n)=\...
- 1,050
2
votes
0
answers
149
views
Concentration of Reduced words
This might be a rather broad question, and I'll be satisfied with some intuition and pointers to relevant literature. However, I'll certainly fill in more context and details based on any feedback.
...
- 949
4
votes
1
answer
447
views
Finite index subgroups of a RAAG
Let $G$ be the group given by the presentation
$$\langle x,y,z,w \ | \ xy = yx, yz = zy, zw = wz\rangle.$$
This is a right-angled Artin group (RAAG) whose graph is a path on $4$ vertices.
We can ...
- 11.3k
2
votes
0
answers
86
views
Automorphisms of a free topological product
Let $G$, $G_1$, $G_2$ be Hausdorff topological groups. I am mainly interested in the case when those groups are profinite.
Let $G$ act continuously on $G_1$ and $G_2$ via continuous automorphisms, i.e....
- 381
11
votes
1
answer
964
views
Normal closures of finitely generated subgroups of a free group
Is it true that for every finitelty generated subgroup $H$ of infinite index in a free
group $F$ on the two letters $\{x,y\}$, there exists a finite index
subgroup $K$ of $H$, such that the normal ...
- 11.3k
3
votes
2
answers
287
views
Free subgroup of a quotient
Let $F$ be a free group on $x,y,z$. Fix $n>1$ (I am ready to assume that $n$ is large enough). Let $\mathcal{W}$ be the set of cyclically reduced words $w$ in $F$ where the letter $z$ appears at ...
- 11.3k
4
votes
3
answers
320
views
Examples of IF-groups
I have seen that several authors say that an infinite group $G$ is an IF-group (or has the IF-property) if every subgroup of infinite index in $G$ is free (for instance, see https://arxiv.org/pdf/1607....
- 11.3k
0
votes
0
answers
105
views
specific qi on free groups
Let $F_n$ be the free group on $n$ generators, $n>1$.
If $\phi$ is a quasi-isometry (or a bijective bilipschitz equivalence) on $F_n$, then what can we say about the explicit form of $\phi$?
In ...
- 1,528
5
votes
2
answers
456
views
Is the mapping torus of an automorphism of a free group virtually an amalgamated product?
Let $F$ be a nonabelian finitely generated free group,
let $\tau \in \mathrm{Aut}(F)$ be an element of infinite order,
and set $G = F \rtimes \mathbb{Z}$,
where the action of $\mathbb{Z}$ on $F$ is ...
- 11.3k
2
votes
0
answers
90
views
Fully residually free groups and completion
Let $G$ be a fully residually free group with a finitely generated profinite completion. Is $G$ necessarily finitely generated?
- 11.3k
6
votes
0
answers
245
views
Wild automorphisms of a free group
Let $F_X$ be a free group on a countably infinite set $X$. Let $\alpha$ be an automorphism of $F_X$ and $H$ a closed subgroup of $F_X$ in the profinite topology.
Is it possible that $\alpha(H) \...
- 11.3k
2
votes
0
answers
147
views
Rank gradient in free products amalgamating a finite subgroup
Let $A,B$ be finitely generated groups with a common finite subgroup $C$. Suppose that $[A : C] > 2, [B : C] > 1$.
Must $A *_C B$ have positive rank gradient?
See Which 3-manifolds have ...
- 11.3k
2
votes
0
answers
124
views
Salvaging Howson's theorem for free profinite groups
This is an attempt to find a correct version of Do free profinite groups satisfy Howson's theorem?
Let $F$ be a free profinite group, and let $A,B \leq F$ be closed finitely generated subgroups ...
- 11.3k
10
votes
1
answer
331
views
A subgroup of corank 1 in a free group contains a primitive element?
Let $F$ be the free group on $\{x_i\}_{i=1}^\infty$, and let $H \leq F$ be a subgroup with $\langle H \cup \{x_1\} \rangle = F$. Must there be a free basis $B$ of $F$ for which $B \cap H \neq \...
- 11.3k
6
votes
0
answers
369
views
Primitive elements in a free group
Let $F$ be a free group of rank $\aleph_0$ and let $H$ be a subgroup for which there exists some $a \in F$ such that $\langle H \cup \{a\} \rangle = F$. Must there be some free basis $B$ for $F$ and a ...
- 11.3k
0
votes
1
answer
193
views
Must a group of defficiency > 1 be nonabelian?
Let $F$ be a free group of finite rank $n > 2$, and let $S \subseteq F$ be a subset of cardinality at most $n-2$. Denote by $S^F$ the normal subgroup of $F$ generated by $S$. Must $F/S^F$ be ...
- 11.3k
3
votes
0
answers
117
views
Generating free groups by small subgroups and an element
Let $F$ be a free group of countably infinite rank, and let $L \leq F$ be a finite index subgroup. For some prime $p$ and $k \in \mathbb{N}$, let $\sigma \colon L \to \mathrm{GL}_k(\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{...
- 11.3k
3
votes
1
answer
173
views
What is the corank of a proper char subgroup of a finite index subgroup of a free group?
Let $F$ be the free group of rank $\aleph_0$, let $L \leq F$ be a finite index subgroup, and let $M$ be a proper characteristic subgroup of $L$. Is it possible that there exists a finite subset $S \...
- 11.3k
8
votes
1
answer
350
views
Products of subgroups of a free group
Let $F$ be a free group, and let $A,B \leq F$ be two subgroups such that $AB$ contains a nontrivial normal subgroup of $F$. Must either $A$ or $B$ contain a nontrivial normal subgroup of $F$?
What if ...
- 11.3k
18
votes
0
answers
477
views
Linear groups which don't contain products of free groups
Let $G \subset GL(n, \Bbb Z)$ be a f.g. linear group. The Tits alternative says that $G$ is either virtually solvable (i.e. has a solvable subgroup of finite index), or contains a free group $F_2$. ...
- 17k
4
votes
0
answers
240
views
Is a finitely generated subgroup of a free profinite group virtually a retract?
Let $F$ be a nonabelian finitely generated free profinite group, and let $H \leq F$ be a finitely generated closed subgroup. Must there be some open subgroup $H \leq U \leq F$, and a closed normal ...
- 11.3k
1
vote
0
answers
302
views
Can a profinite completion be free pro-p?
Is there a prime number $p$ and a finitely generated residually finite group whose profinite completion is a free pro-$p$ group on a nonempty finite set?
Thanks to YCor we see that we cannot take the ...
- 11.3k
3
votes
0
answers
209
views
Growth of the number of generators in hyperbolic groups
Let $G$ be an infinite hyperbolic group, and let us further assume that it is residually finite (or even LERF/GFERF) so that we have plenty of subgroups of finite index.
I would like to know if one ...
- 11.3k
3
votes
1
answer
189
views
Measuring products of finitely generated subgroups of free groups
Let $F$ be a finitely generated free group, $H_1, \dots, H_n$ finitely generated subgroups of infinite index in $F$, and $\epsilon > 0$. Must there be an epimorphism to a finite group $\phi \colon ...
- 11.3k
10
votes
2
answers
383
views
Can a positive measure subset of a free group be nowhere dense?
Let $F$ be a finitely generated free group and let $S \subseteq F$ be a subset for which there is some $\epsilon > 0$ such that for any epimorphism to a finite group $\phi \colon F \to G$ we have ...
- 11.3k
8
votes
2
answers
295
views
Is the free abstract group residually of rank d > 2?
Let $d \geq 2$ be an integer, and let $\mathcal{F}_d$ be the family of finite groups such that $G \in \mathcal{F}_d$ if and only if every subgroup of $G$ can be generated by at most $d$ elements.
Is ...
- 11.3k
3
votes
0
answers
421
views
Marshall Hall's theorem for surface groups [closed]
Let $\Gamma_g$ be a surface group of genus $g \geq 2$, that is we have a presentation: $$\Gamma_g = \langle x_1,y_1 \dots, x_g,y_g \vert \prod_{i = 1}^g [x_i,y_i] = 1\rangle$$
Let $H \leq \Gamma_g$ ...
- 11.3k
4
votes
2
answers
337
views
A Karrass-Solitar theorem for surface groups
Let $\Gamma_g$ be a surface group of genus $g \geq 2$. That is, there is a presentation $$\Gamma_g = \langle x_1, y_1, \dots, x_g, y_g \vert \prod_{i = 1}^{g}[x_i,y_i] = 1\rangle$$
Is there a ...
- 11.3k
5
votes
1
answer
264
views
Bases of surface groups
Let $\Gamma_g$ be a surface group of genus $g \geq 2$. A $2g$-tuple $(x_1,y_1, \dots,x_g,y_g) \in \Gamma_g^{2g}$ will be called a Surface Basis if we have the presentation $$\Gamma_g = \langle x_1, ...
- 11.3k
2
votes
0
answers
202
views
Accessible subgroups of free groups
Let $F$ be a nonabelian free finitely generated group, and $F = G_0 \rhd G_1 \rhd G_2 \dots$ a strictly descending subnormal chain of subgroups ($G_n \lhd G_{n-1}$ for each $n \in \mathbb{N}$) each ...
- 11.3k
2
votes
1
answer
286
views
Can a closure make the index finite?
Let $F$ be a free finitely generated group, $H \leq F$ of infinite index. Let $c : F \rightarrow \hat{F}$ be the embedding in the profinite completion. Denote by $\tilde{F}, \tilde{H}$ the closure of $...
- 11.3k
0
votes
0
answers
110
views
Bases and transversals
Let $F$ be a free finitely generated group, $L \leq H \leq F$ subgroups of finite index.
Given bases $B$ of $F$ and $C$ of $H$, must there be a Schreier transversal $T$ for $H$ in $F$ such that the ...
- 11.3k
2
votes
1
answer
286
views
Making a profinite group free
Let $F$ be a free profinite group, $G$ a profinite group. Suppose that the free profinite product $F \amalg G$ is a free profinite group. Must $G$ be a free profinite group?
For abstract groups the ...
- 11.3k