Simple loop conjecture for limit groups (Q2017127)

The simple loop conjecture states that noninjective maps from closed orientable surface groups to 3-manifold groups kill simple closed curves. A related question for maps to limit groups is the issue of the present article. For an orientable surface \(S\) and a free homotopy class \(c\) of curves on \(S\) let the \textit{self-intersection number} be the minimal number of points of self-intersection of curves without triple points in \(c\). \(c\) is \textit{\(k\)-simple} if its self-intersection number is at most \(k\). A continuous map \(S\to X\) is \textit{\(k\)-pinching} if the image of some \(k\)-simple curve is homotopically trivial in \(S\). The map is called \textit{non-\(k\)-pinching} if it is not \(k\)-pinching. The same terms are used on the group level. Let \(\Gamma \) be a torsion free hyperbolic group. A finitely generated group \(G\) is a \(\Gamma \)\textit{-limit group} if for each finite \(S\subset G\) there is a homomorphism \(G\to \Gamma \) embedding \(S\). The author shows: Theorem 1. Let \(S\) be a compact orientable surface of genus at least 3. For any \(k\) there is a limit group \(L\) and a non-\(k\)-pinching noninjective map \(\pi_1(S)\to L\). If \(M\) is the figure-eight knot complement and \(S\) the compact orientable surface of genus 2 then for any \(k\) there is a \(\pi_1(M)\)-limit group \(L\) and a noninjective non-\(k\)-pinching map \(\pi_1(S)\to L\). As corollaries the author obtains: Corollary 2. For any \(k\) and compact orientable surface \(S\) of genus at least 2 there is a nonfaithful, non-\(k\)-pinching all loxodromic representation \(\pi_1(S)\to SL(2,\mathbb C)\). Corollary 4. The property of admitting only \(k\)-pinching noninjective maps of surface groups is not closed under elementary equivalence.