Hyperbolic extensions of groups (Q1916433)

Let \(H\) and \(G\) be finitely generated groups equipped with word metrics, and \(p:G\to H\) be a surjective homomorphism. A quasi-isometric section is a subset \(\Sigma\subset G\) mapping onto \(H\) for which there exists \(\kappa\geq 1\) and \(\varepsilon\geq 0\) such that for any \(g,g'\in\Sigma\), we have \[ {1\over k}d_H(pg,pg')-\varepsilon\leq d_G(g,g')\leq\kappa d_H(pg,pg')+\varepsilon. \] The group \(H\) is said to be a quasi-retract of \(G\) if there exists a quasi-isometric section (this terminology is due to J. Alonso). The main result of this paper is the following Theorem: Let \(P\) be any property of groups which is preserved under passage to quasi-retracts. Given a short exact sequence of finitely generated groups \(1\to K\to G\to H\to 1\) where \(K\) is word hyperbolic and non-elementary, then if \(G\) satisfies \(P\) then \(H\) satisfies \(P\). The author obtains the following consequence: given a short exact sequence as above (again, with \(K\) word hyperbolic and non-elementary), then if \(G\) is hyperbolic (respectively combable, asynchronously combable), then so is \(H\). If \(G\) and \(H\) are finitely presented, then the isoperimetric function of \(H\) is dominated by that of \(G\). This result is used by the author in his paper [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 142, No. 2, 303-384 (1995; Zbl 0867.57004)] to deduce automaticity of the mapping class group of a closed surface from the same result for a surface with punctures.