A product theorem in free groups. (Q2445314)

Let \(A\) be a finite set in a free group. The main theorem asserts that, unless \(A\) lies in a cyclic subgroup, we have \[ |A^3|>|A|^2(\log|A|)^{-c}. \] A similar result holds under the weaker assumption that the ambient group contains a subgroup of finite index. This improves several previous results and is essentially best possible. The proof is elementary (though far from simple), and operates heavily with the collision numbers (a term which the reviewer also prefers to the more usual additive or multiplicative energy). At the end the author presents an analog of Plünnecke's inequality in terms of collision numbers (in commutative groups).