Quasi-isometries between groups with infinitely many ends (Q1601061)

One of the important theorems in geometric group theory is Stalling's Ends Theorem, which says that a finitely generated group splits as a free product or HNN-extension with finite amalgamation if and only if it has more than one end. The property of having infinitely many ends is invariant under quasi-isometry. One of the main goals of geometric group theory is to classify finitely generated groups up to quasi-isometry. Since splitting over a finite subgroup is invariant under quasi-isometry, it is natural to ask how the quasi-isometry type of a free product with finite amalgamation is related to the types of its factors. The following are the main results of this paper. Theorem 0.1. Let \(A,B\) and \(C\) be nontrivial groups. If \(A\) and \(B\) are quasi-isometric then \(A*C\) and \(B*C\) are quasi-isometric unless \(C\), and one of \(A\) or \(B\) have order 2. Theorem 0.2. Let \(A\) and \(B\) be groups, and \(F\) a common finite proper subgroup. Unless \(F\) is of index 2 in both \(A\) and \(B\) then \(A*B\) and \(A*_FB\) are quasi-isometric. Likewise, \(A*_F\) and \(A*\mathbb{Z}\) are quasi-isometric unless \(F\) has index 1 in \(A\). Theorem 0.3. Let \(G,H\) be finitely generated groups with infinitely many ends and let \(\pi_1(\Gamma,\mathcal A)\), \(\pi_1(\Delta,\mathcal B)\) be decompositions of \(G,H\) in graphs of groups such that all edge groups are finite. If \(\pi_1(\Gamma,\mathcal A)\), \(\pi_1(\Delta,\mathcal B)\) have the same set of quasi-isometry types of vertex groups (without multiplicities) then \(G\) and \(H\) are quasi-isometric.