Hall's theorem for limit groups. (Q2427042)

By M. Hall's well known theorem every finitely generated subgroup \(G\) of a finitely generated free group \(F\) is a free factor (retract) in a finite-index subgroup \(H\) of \(F\), and \(G\) is closed in the profinite topology of \(F\) (separable). These results are generalized to limit groups. By a theorem of Kharlampovich and Miasnikov limit groups are precisely the finitely generated subgroups of groups in the smallest class of groups containing all finitely generated free groups that is closed under extending centralizers. The author make extensive use of this characterization. A topological techniques inspired by the work of Stallings is also applied.