Intersections and joins of free groups.

DOI10.2140/AGT.2009.9.305MaRDI QIDQ1007211zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Richard Peabody IV Kent

Publication date 20 March 2009

Published in Algebraic \& Geometric Topology (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/0802.0033

zbMATH Keywords

finitely generated subgroupsfree groupsHanna Neumann conjectureintersectionsjoinsranks

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Free nonabelian groups (20E05) Subgroup theorems; subgroup growth (20E07) Generators, relations, and presentations of groups (20F05) General geometric structures on low-dimensional manifolds (57M50)

Abstract: Let H and K be subgroups of a free group of ranks h and k geq h. We prove the following strong form of Burns' inequality: rank(H cap K) - 1 leq 2(h-1)(k-1) - (h-1)(rank(H vee K) -1). A corollary of this, also obtained by L. Louder and D. B. McReynolds, has been used by M. Culler and P. Shalen to obtain information regarding the volumes of hyperbolic 3-manifolds. We also prove the following particular case of the Hanna Neumann Conjecture, which has also been obtained by Louder. If the join of H and K has rank at least (h + k + 1)/2, then the intersection of H and K has rank no more than (h-1)(k-1) + 1.

Review text

The author examines the relation between the ranks of finitely generated subgroups of a free group and the ranks of their join and intersection. More precisely in his main theorem he proves that if \(H,K\) are subgroups of rank \(h\) and \(k\geq h\), respectively, of a free group, then \[ \text{rank}(H\cap K)-1\leq 2(h-1)(k-1)-(h-1)(\text{rank}(H\vee K)-1), \] where \(H\vee K\) is the join \(\langle H,K\rangle\) of \(H\) and \(K\). This is a strong form of R. Burns' inequality. This also answers in the affirmative a question of M. Culler and P. Shalen, namely: If \(H\) and \(K\) are two subgroups of rank 2 of a free group and \(H\cap K\) has rank two, must their join have rank two as well? The author quotes and comments on relative results of Burns, Louder, McReynolds, Culler and Shalen. In combination with these and his results he gives interesting consequences. The methods of proof are mostly combinatorial.

Recommendations

• Remarks on the Intersection of Finitely Generated Subgroups of a Free Group
• On Howson's theorem
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Cites work

• 4-free groups and hyperbolic geometry
• A short proof of a theorem of Burns.
• Equivalence of the strengthened Hanna Neumann conjecture and the amalgamated graph conjecture
• Graphs of subgroups of free groups.
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4190013 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3116633 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3127566 (Why is no real title available?)
• Intersections of finitely generated free groups
• Intersections of finitely generated subgroups of free groups and resolutions of graphs
• Krull dimension for limit groups.
• On Howson's theorem
• On the intersection of finitely generated subgroups of a free group
• Topology of finite graphs

Cited in

(17)

• Graphs of subgroups of free groups.
• Geometric intersection number and analogues of the curve complex for free groups.
• Algebraic and geometric intersection numbers for free groups
• On Howson's theorem
• On the rank of intersection of subgroups of a free product of groups
• Hyperbolic 3-manifolds with \(k\)-free fundamental group
• On a conjecture of Imrich and Müller
• On joins and intersections of subgroups in free groups
• Remarks on the Intersection of Finitely Generated Subgroups of a Free Group
• On the intersection of free subgroups in free products of groups
• Intersections of finitely generated free groups
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1014823 (Why is no real title available?)
• Realizable ranks of joins and intersections of subgroups in free groups
• Retracts of Free Groups and a Question of Bergman
• The geometry of \(k\)-free hyperbolic 3-manifolds
• On the lattice of subgroups of a free group: complements and rank
• Hyperbolic one-relator groups

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