The growth of free products. (Q2431543)

Let \(G\) be a finitely generated group, generated by the finite set \(S\). For an element \(x\in G\) the shortest length of \(x\), written as a word in the elements of \(S\) and their inverses, is denoted \(l_S(x)\). Let \(a_n\) and \(s_n\) denote the number of elements of length \(n\), or at most \(n\), respectively. The group \(G\) is said to have exponential growth if there exist numbers \(A>0\), \(c>1\), such that \(s_n\geq Ac^n\), for all \(n\). This notion is independent of the set of generators. The limit \(\omega(G,S)=\lim s_n^{1/n}\) exists, and \(G\) has exponential growth iff \(\omega(G,S)>1\). Let \(\Omega(G)=\inf\omega(G,S)\) be the infimum taken over all finite sets of generators of \(G\). If \(\Omega(G)>1\), it is said that \(G\) has uniformly exponential growth. In this paper the author studies the growth rate \(\Omega(G)\) for \(G\) being a free amalgamated product or an HNN-extension or a group of positive deficiency. More precisely he proves: Theorem 1. Let \(G\) be a non-trivial HNN-extension, not of semidirect type. Then \(\Omega(G)\geq\tau=\frac{1+\sqrt 5}{2}\) (the golden ratio). Theorem 2. Let \(G\) be a non-trivial amalgamated free product, not of dihedral type. \(\Omega(G)\geq\alpha\), where \(\alpha\) is the unique positive root of \(z^3-z-1=0\). Theorem 3. Let \(G\) be a group of positive deficiency, i.e., \(G\) has a finite presentation with more generators than relations, and of exponential growth. Then \(\Omega(G)\geq\gamma\), where \(\gamma\) is the positive root of \(z^3-z^2+z-2=0\). The first two Theorems improve a result of \textit{M. Bucher} and \textit{P. de la Harpe} [``Free products with amalgamation and HNN-extensions of uniformly exponential growth,'' Math. Notes 67, No.\,6, 686-689 (2000); translation from Mat. Zametki 67, No.\,6, 811-815 (2000; Zbl 0998.20025)]. The third one improves a result of \textit{J. O. Button} [``Non proper HNN extensions and uniform uniform exponential growth'', \url{arXiv: 0909.2841}]. Moreover the author proves: Theorem 4. Let \(G=A*B\) be a non-trivial free product, other than the infinite dihedral group \(C_2*C_2\). (a) \(\Omega(G)\geq\sqrt 2\), and unless \(G=C_2*C_3\), we have \(\Omega(G)\geq\beta\), where \(\beta\) is the positive root of \(z^3-2z^2+2z-2=0\). (b) If neither \(A\) nor \(B\) can be generated by elements of order 2, or if \(A\) cannot be generated by elements of order 2 and 3, then \(\Omega(G)\geq\tau\) (the golden ratio). (c) Unless \(G=C_2*C_3\), or both \(A\) and \(B\) are \(C_2\) or dihedral, \(\Omega (G)\geq\delta\), where \(\delta\) is the positive root of \(z^3-z^2+z-3=0\). Theorem 5 (Theorem 6 in the paper). Let \(G_{1,k}=\langle x,y\mid x^2=y^3,\;x^{2k}=1\rangle\), \(G_{2,k}=\langle x,y\mid x^2=y^4,\;x^{2k}=1\rangle\), \(k=0,1,2,\dots\). The growth rates of \(G_{1,k}\), \(G_{2,k}\) are realized, and are equal to \(\sqrt 2\) and to \(\tau\) (the golden ratio), respectively. As the author notes the proofs are modifications of ones in the above mentioned paper of M. Bucher and P. de la Harpe and in the paper of \textit{R. I. Grigorchuk} and \textit{P. de la Harpe} [``One-relator groups of exponential growth have uniformly exponential growth,'' Math. Notes 69, No. 4, 575-577 (2001); translation from Mat. Zametki 69, No. 4, 628-630 (2001; Zbl 0999.20033)]. -- The paper concludes with some interesting problems.