Random elements of a free profinite group generate a free subgroup (Q1320939)

Let \(F\) be a free profinite group of rank \(e\) with a probability measure given by the normalized Haar measure on \(F\). M. Jarden has shown that, if \(e = 1\), then almost all elements of \(F\) generate a closed subgroup of infinite index, whilst almost all pairs of elements generate an open subgroup (of finite index) [see \textit{M. D. Fried} and \textit{M. Jarden}, Field Arithmetic (Springer, 1986; Zbl 0625.12001), Lemma 16.15]. In the paper [\textit{W. M. Kantor} and \textit{A. Lubotzky}, Geom. Dedicata 36, 67-87 (1990; Zbl 0718.20011)] it was shown that, if \(e > 1\), then the probability that an \(e\)-tuple of elements from \(F\) generates an open subgroup is 0. In the present paper, the author proves the following stronger result (Theorem 1). Let \(F\) be a free profinite group of rank \(e>1\), and let \(k \geq 1\). Then a \(k\)-tuple of elements of \(F\) generates an open subgroup of \(F\) with probability 0, and generates a closed subgroup which is free profinite of rank \(k\) with probability 1. Moreover (Proposition 7), if \(k < e\), then a similar result holds when \(F\) is a free pro-\(p\)-group; but, in this case, for \(k \geq e\), the probability that a \(k\)-tuple generates an open subgroup is no longer 0. The author notes that A. Mann has since obtained related results for free prosolvable groups.