Separability properties of free groups and surface groups (Q1183359)

Let \(G\) be a group. The profinite topology on \(G\) is the topology obtained by taking the finite-index normal subgroups of \(G\) to be a base for the neighbourhoods of the identity. The group \(G\) is said to be subgroup separable if all its finitely generated subgroups are closed in the profinite topology. This concept has been studied by several authors. Now suppose that \(H\) is a subgroup of \(G\). Then \(G\) is said to be coset separable with respect to \(H\) if for any finitely generated subgroup \(K\) of \(G\), and for any \(g\in G\) the double coset \(HgK\) is closed in the profinite topology. This concept was introduced by \textit{R. Gitik} and \textit{E. Rips} [``On separability properties I'', preprint (1990)] in a different form; the above formulation is due to the author. He gives a criterion for \(G\) to be coset separable with respect to \(H\) (Theorem 3.2). He then deduces that groups \(G\) in any of the classes below have the property that all double cosets \(AgB\) (\(A\), \(B\) finitely generated subgroups of \(G\), \(g\in G\)) are closed in the profinite topology: free groups; surface groups; finitely generated Fuchsian groups; fundamental groups of Seifert fibred 3-manifolds. The result for free groups was originally proved by Gitik and Rips.