Normal subgroups in limit groups of prime index (Q1693068)

Let \(F\) be a free group of rank greater than one. According to the definition of \textit{G. Baumslag} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 17, 402--418 (1967; Zbl 0166.01502)], a finitely generated group \(G\) is said to be a limit group (or \(\omega\)-residually free) if, given any finite subset \(S\) of \(G\), there is a homomorphism \(G \to F\) whose restriction to \(S\) is injective. This class of groups includes many significant examples, such as finitely generated free (abelian) groups, and the fundamental groups of closed oriented surfaces. \textit{D. Kochloukova} and \textit{P. Zalesskii} [Math. Nachr. 288, No. 5--6, 604--618 (2015; Zbl 1326.20031)] have asked the following question. If \(G\) is a non-abelian limit group, and \(U\) is a normal subgroup of \(G\) of prime index, is it \(d(U) > d(G)\)? Here, \(d(L)\) denotes the minimum number of generators of the group \(L\). In the paper under review, the authors settle in the affermative the similar question for the rational rank \(\text{rk}_{\mathbb Q}(L) = \dim_{\mathbb Q} (G^{\text{ab}} \otimes_{\mathbb Z} \mathbb Q)\). Here, \(G^{\text{ab}} = G / G'\) is the abelianization of \(G\). As a consequence, they are able to settle the original question in the affirmative in several cases, such as when \(G^{\text{ab}}\) is torsion-free and \(d(G) = f(G^{\text{ab}})\).