Definable subgroups of the product of two groups (Q1078657)

A subset S of a set M carrying some structure is definable if there is a non-negative integer n, a first-order formula \(\Phi\) in \(n+1\) variables, and n elements \(m_ 1,m_ 2,...,m_ n\) of M such that S is the set of all those elements m of M for which \(\Phi (m,m_ 1,m_ 2,...,m_ n)\) is satisfied. A definable subgroup of a group G is one whose carrier is a definable subset of the carrier of G. The definitions are due, to the reviewer's best knowledge, to \textit{W. Baur}, \textit{G. Cherlin} and \textit{A. Macintyre} [J. Algebra 57, 407-440 (1979; Zbl 0401.03012)]. If K is a definable subgroup of the direct product \(G\times H\) of two groups G and H, then there are unique definable subgroups A of G and B of H such that \(A\times B\) is a normal subgroup of finite index, say n, in K; if (the carrier of) K is written as the union of n cosets of \(A\times B\), the projections of these cosets into G and H are distinct cosets of A and B, respectively. It follows that if G is an infinite group, then the diagonal subgroup of \(G\times G\) is not definable. If G has a minimal definable subgroup \(G^ 0\) of finite index and if H likewise has a minimal definable subgroup \(H^ 0\) of finite index, then \(G\times H\) has a minimal definable subgroup \((G\times H)^ 0\) of finite index, and \(G^ 0\times H^ 0\) is contained in, but not necessarily equal to, \((G\times H)^ 0\).