Almost convex groups and the eight geometries (Q1900030)

The following main results are obtained. Theorem 1. Suppose \(G\) is the fundamental group of a closed 3-manifold \(M\) carrying one of Thurston's eight geometries. Then \(G\) is almost convex with respect to some generating set if and only if \(M\) is not a Sol geometry manifold. Theorem 2. Suppose that \(H\) is word hyperbolic, that \(A\) is finitely generated abelian, and that \[ 1 \to A \to G @>\pi>> H \to 1 \] is a central extension. Then there is a finite generating set \(\mathfrak G\) for \(G\) so that \(G\) is almost convex with respect to \(\mathfrak G\).