Virtual pro-\(p\) properties of 3-manifold groups (Q2406668)

A \(p\)-group is a finite group of order a power of \(p\), where \(p\) is a prime. A group is \textit{residually} \(p\) if for every \(1\neq g\in G\) there is an epimorphism \(\phi\) of \(G\) onto a \(p\)-group with \(\phi (g)\neq 1\). The \textit{pro-\(p\) topology} on a group \(G\) is the topology whose neighborhood basis of the identity consists of normal subgroups of \(G\) of index a power of \(p\). A (closed orientable) \(3\)-manifold \(M\) is \textit{\(p\)-efficient} if its fundamental group \(G\) is residually \(p\) and for each component \(N\) of the JSJ decomposition of \(M\), and each component \(T\) of \(\partial N\), the fundamental groups of \(N\) and \(T\) (as subgroups of \(G\)) are closed in the pro-\(p\) topology on \(G\) and their pro-\(p\) topologies are induced by the pro-\(p\) topology of \(G\). \textit{M. Aschenbrenner} and \textit{S. Friedl} [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 1058, v-vii, 100 p. (2013; Zbl 1328.57002)] showed that for every prime \(p\), a closed graph manifold has a finite cover which is \(p\)-efficient and they asked whether this property holds for non-graph manifolds. In the present paper the author shows that this is indeed true for all compact orientable \(3\)-manifolds which are not closed graph manifolds. Observing that the property of the JSJ decomposition being efficient is used to prove conjugacy separability of \(3\)-manifold groups, Aschenbrenner and Friedl asked whether virtual \(p\)-efficiency has a similar application. Again in the present paper the author gives an affirmative answer by proving that the fundamental group of any compact orientable graph manifold has a finite index subgroup which is conjugacy \(p\)-separable. In the course of proving this theorem he shows that the fundamental group of a \(2\)-orbifold or of a Seifert fiber space not of Nil geometry is conjugacy \(p\)-separable precisely when it is residually \(p\).