Existential equivalence of ordered abelian groups with parameters (Q914661)

\textit{Yu. Sh. Gurevich} and \textit{A. I. Kokorin} [Algebra Logika, Sem. 2, No.1, 37-39 (1963)] have shown that any two non-trivial ordered abelian groups (o-groups, for short) satisfy the same existential sentences. Let now G, H be non-trivial o-groups with a common o-subgroup \(G_ 0\). The paper presents a necessary and sufficient criterion for G and H to be existentially equivalent over \(G_ 0\). As a corollary, various algebraic criteria are given for deciding whether an o-subgroup G is existentially closed in an o-group H. Corresponding results are proved for o-groups in which congruences are regarded as atomic relations. The proofs employ effective quantifier elimination procedures in suitable relational extensions of the language of o-groups.