On embedding properties of \(SD\)-groups. (Q1774642)

Since the seminal paper of \textit{G. Higman, B. H. Neumann} and \textit{H. Neumann} [J. Lond. Math. Soc. 24, 247-254 (1950; Zbl 0034.30101)] showing that any countable group can be embedded in a two-generator group, the problem of embedding various types of countable groups in groups with appropriate properties has been of interest. The groups considered in this paper are \(SD\)-groups, that is, groups in which the commutator series \(G=G^{(0)}\geq G^{(1)}\geq G^{(2)}\geq\cdots\geq G^{(\sigma)}\geq\cdots\) reaches 1 for some finite or infinite ordinal \(\rho\). The main theorem shows that not only can every countable \(SD\)-group \(G\) be embedded as a subnormal subgroup of a two generator \(SD\)-group \(H\), but the embedding can be chosen so that the image of \(G\) lies in any specified verbal subgroup of \(H\). Moreover, if \(G\) is ordered then \(H\) can be chosen to be ordered and the image of \(G\) to be order-isomorphic to \(G\), and if \(G\) is torsion free, then \(H\) can be chosen to be torsion-free. The verbal embedding property is then used to show that there exists a continuum of torsion-free, not locally soluble two-generator \(SD\)-groups which generate pairwise distinct varieties of groups.