A necessary condition for \(A*_{a=b}B\) to be LERF (Q1178346)

A group \(G\) is said to be LERF (locally-extended residually finite) if for each subgroup \(H\) and each \(g\in G\backslash H\), there is a finite- index subgroup \(K\) containing \(H\) and avoiding \(g\). Here a quite transparent LERF group \(A\) is exhibited with the property that the free product \(A*_{a=b} B\) with a certain cycle amalgamated is not LERF for a very large class of groups \(B\). This further illuminates the gap between the known necessary conditions and the known sufficient conditions for a free product of LERF groups with cyclic amalgamation to again be LERF.