Lifting representations of \(\mathbb{Z}\)-groups. (Q2382337)

Let \(G\) be a finitely presented group with infinite Abelianization and let \(K\) be the kernel of an epimorphism \(\chi\colon G\to\mathbb{Z}\). The group \(K\) admits a nontrivial \(\mathbb{Z}\)-action by automorphisms, which is the restriction to \(K\) of conjugation in \(G\) by a preimage \(x\in\chi^{-1}(1)\). Two such actions corresponding to different preimages are related by an inner automorphism of \(K\), and for this reason, \(K\) is called a `finitely presented \(\mathbb{Z}\)-group'. In the paper under review, the authors prove that if \(K\) is any finitely presented \(\mathbb{Z}\)-group that contains infinitely many subgroups of index 2, 3 or 4, then \(K\) contains uncountably many subgroups of that index. They also obtain that if a finitely presented \(\mathbb{Z}\)-group \(K\) contains infinitely many subgroups of index 2, 3 or 4, then \(K\) contains uncountably many subgroups of any index greater than or equal to \(r!\). The following application to knot groups is given. If \(K\) is the commutator subgroup of a classical knot group \(G\), then any homomorphism from \(K\) onto the symmetric group \(S_2\) (resp. \(\mathbb{Z}_3\)) lifts to a homomorphism onto \(S_3\) (resp. alternating group \(A_4\)).