Subgroup separability of the figure 8 knot group. (Q2488864)

A subgroup \(H\) of a group \(G\) is said to be `separable' provided that \(H\) is the intersection of finite index subgroups of \(G\). When every finitely generated subgroup of \(G\) is separable, then \(G\) is called `subgroup separable' or `LERF'. The author shows a generalization of the following Theorem: Let \(X\) be a subcomplex of the direct product \(A\times B\) of two graphs. Suppose that \(\pi_1X\) is word-hyperbolic, then every quasiconvex subgroup of \(\pi_1X\) is separable. This has as a consequence: The geometrically finite subgroups of the figure 8 knot group are separable. -- It is also shown that \(\pi_1\)-injective immersions of surfaces into the figure 8 knot complement \(M\) with minimal self-intersection can be lifted to an embedding in a finite cover of \(M\).