Variations on polynomial subgroup growth (Q1916883)

A group \(G\) is said to have polynomial subgroup growth (PSG) of degree \(\leq\alpha\) if, for each \(n\), \(G\) has at most \(n^\alpha\) subgroups of index \(\leq n\). In this paper the author defines \(G\) to have weak polynomial subgroup growth (wPSG) of degree \(\leq\alpha\) if, for each finite quotient \(\overline{G}\) of \(G\), the number \(s(\overline{G})\) of subgroups of \(\overline{G}\) is bounded by \(|\overline{G}|^\alpha\). (Analogous definitions hold for profinite groups with ``subgroup'' replaced by ``closed subgroup''.) It is clear that PSG of degree \(\leq\alpha\) implies wPSG of degree \(\leq\alpha\). The central result of the present paper is a form of the reverse implication (Theorem B): There is a function \(f\) such that every abstract or profinite group with wPSG of degree \(\leq \alpha\) has PSG of degree \(\leq f(\alpha)\). This theorem has several consequences. Using results of \textit{A. Lubotzky, A. Mann} and \textit{D. Segal} [Isr. J. Math. 82, No. 1-3, 363-371 (1993; Zbl 0811.20027)] it follows that (Theorem A): A finitely generated residually finite group has wPSG if and only if it is a finite extension of a finitely generated torsion-free soluble minimax group. Two further corollaries are proved using results of \textit{A. Mann} [ibid. 82, No. 1-3, 373-380 (1993; Zbl 0805.20022) and Forum Math. 8, No. 4, 429-459 (1996; Zbl 0852.20019)]. Suppose that \(G\) is a profinite group. Corollary 1: If \(G\) has wPSG of degree \(\leq\alpha\), then \(G\) has a generating set of size at most \(f(\alpha)+3\). Corollary 2: If, for some \(k\), \(\delta\) and \(\lambda\), each finite quotient \(\overline{G}\) has at least \(\delta s(\overline{G})^\lambda\) \(k\)-generator subgroups, then for each \(\varepsilon<1\) there exists \(d_0\) (depending on \(k\), \(\delta\), \(\lambda\) and \(\varepsilon\)) such that random \(d_0\)-tuples in \(G\) generate \(G\) with probability \(> \varepsilon\).