\(C(6)\) groups do not contain \(F_2\times F_2\). (Q1946077)

If a finite 2-complex \(X\) satisfies the small cancellation condition \(C(p)\)-\(T(q)\) where \(1/p+1/q<1/2\) then the fundamental group \(\pi_1(X)\) is word hyperbolic. When \(1/p+1/q=1/2\) (i.e. \(\{p,q\}=\{3,6\},\{4,4\}\)) then \(\pi_1(X)\) is not necessarily word hyperbolic. This article investigates the extent to which \(C(6)\)-\(T(3)\) groups (that is, \(C(6)\)-groups) fail to be word hyperbolic. A word hyperbolic group cannot contain a \(\mathbb Z\times\mathbb Z\) subgroup and so a group that has \(F_2\times F_2\) as a subgroup is considered to ``strongly fail'' to be word hyperbolic, as such a group contains many \(\mathbb Z\times\mathbb Z\) subgroups. The main theorem of this article is that if \(X\) is \(C(6)\) then \(\pi_1(X)\) does not contain \(F_2\times F_2\) as a subgroup. The authors report (without proof) that the same is true if \(X\) is \(C(3)\)-\(T(6)\). There are, however, \(C(4)\)-\(T(4)\) complexes \(X\) such that \(\pi_1(X)\) contains \(F_2\times F_2\), so a consequence of this work is that \(C(6)\) groups appear to be closer to being word hyperbolic than \(C(4)\)-\(T(4)\) groups.