Normal subgroups of profinite groups of non-negative deficiency. (Q392508)

Let \(G\) be a profinite group of nonnegative deficiency; akin to discrete groups, the deficiency of a profinite group \(G\) is the largest integer \(k\) such that there exists a presentation of \(G\) (in the category of profinite groups) where the number of generators minus the number of relators equals \(k\). In this paper, it is demonstrated using homological methods that the existence of a finitely generated normal subgroup of infinite index in \(G\) has some significant implications for the structure of \(G\). The authors introduce a cohomological notion of \(p\)-deficiency \(\text{def}_p(G)\), where \(p\) is a prime, for a profinite group \(G\). This definition is different from the \(p\)-deficiency introduced by \textit{J.-C. Schlage-Puchta} [in J. Group Theory 15, No. 2, 261-270 (2012; Zbl 1259.20046)], which may take non-integer values. Let \(G\) be a finitely generated profinite group with positive deficiency and \(N\) a finitely generated normal subgroup such that the \(p\)-Sylow subgroup \((G/N)_p\) is infinite and \(p\) divides the order of \(N\). Generalizing a result of \textit{J. A. Hillmann} and \textit{A. Schmidt} [in Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 40, No. 6, 1065-1069 (2008; Zbl 1162.20019)], the authors prove that \(\text{def}_p(G)=1\) and either the \(p\)-Sylow subgroup of \(G/N\) is virtually cyclic or the \(p\)-Sylow subgroup of \(N\) is cyclic. Additionally \(\text{cd}_p(G)=2\), \(\text{cd}_p(N)=1\) and \(\text{vcd}_p(G/N)=1\), where \(\text{cd}_p\) is the cohomological \(p\)-dimension and \(\text{vcd}_p\) is the virtual cohomological \(p\)-dimension. Similar to a result of \textit{J. A. Hillmann} [in Math. Z. 195, 89-92 (1987; Zbl 0597.57009)], the authors prove the following. Let \(G\) be a profinite Poincaré duality group of dimension 3, i.e. a profinite \(\text{PD}^3\)-group at a prime \(p\), and \(N\) be a finitely generated normal subgroup of \(G\) such that the \(p\)-Sylow \((G/N)_p\) is infinite and \(p\) divides \(|N|\). Then either \(N\) is \(\text{PD}^1\) at \(p\) and \(G/N\) is virtually \(\text{PD}^2\) at \(p\) or \(N\) is \(\text{PD}^2\) and \(G/N\) is virtually \(\text{PD}^1\) at \(p\). A pro-\(p\) version of the above result is also given. An example is included showing that it is not true in general that if \(G\) is a \(\text{PD}^3\)-group at \(p\), then \(\text{def}_p(G)=0\). It is established that the profinite version of the \textit{E. Rapaport-Strasser} conjecture [Knot-like groups. Knots, Groups, 3-Manif.; Pap. dedic. Mem. R. H. Fox, 119-133 (1975; Zbl 0323.55003)] is also true: Let \(G\) be a finitely generated profinite group of positive deficiency whose commutator subgroup \([G,G]\) is finitely generated. Then \(\text{def}(G)=1\) and \([G,G]\) is projective. Moreover \(\text{cd}(G)=2\) unless \(G=\widehat{\mathbb{Z}}\). Let \(G\) be a finitely generated pro-\(p\) group of sub-exponential subgroup growth with \(\overline\chi_2(G,\mathbb{F}_p)=0\). It is proven that \(G\) is then (finitely generated free pro-\(p\))-by-cyclic and all finitely generated subgroups of infinite index are free pro-\(p\) groups. The authors proceed to conjecture, that \(G\) is \(\mathbb{Z}_p\) or \(\mathbb{Z}_p\rtimes\mathbb{Z}_p\). The structure of the profinite completion of ascending HNN-extensions of a free group is established as follows: Let \(F=F(x_1,\ldots,x_n)\) be a free group of finite rank \(n\) and \(f\colon F\to F\) an endomorphism. Let \(\Gamma=\langle F,t\mid x^t_i=f(x_i)\rangle\) be the HNN-extension. Let \(P\) be the closure of \(F\) in the profinite completion \(\widehat\Gamma\). Then \(P\) is a projective profinite group that is normal in \(\widehat\Gamma\) and \(\widehat\Gamma=P\rtimes\widehat{\mathbb{Z}}\). Also \(P\) is free profinite of rank \(n\) if and only if \(f\) is an automorphism. The authors then ask to describe the projective groups \(P\) obtained in this manner. An example of such is given. A corollary is that an ascending HNN-extension \(\Gamma\) of a free group is good, where goodness is a concept introduced by \textit{J.-P. Serre} [Galois cohomology. Springer Monographs in Mathematics. Berlin, Springer (2002; Zbl 1004.12003)]. Furthermore it is shown that all arithmetic Kleinian groups are good, generalizing the earlier result for Bianchi groups [\textit{F. Grunewald, A. Jaikin-Zapirain} and \textit{P. A. Zalesskii}, Duke Math. J. 144, No. 1, 53-72 (2008; Zbl 1194.20029)]. The authors sketch a proof that all fundamental groups of 3-manifolds are good, using a result of \textit{D. T. Wise} [in Electron. Res. Announc. Math. Sci. 16, 44-55 (2009; Zbl 1183.20043)].