The commutator subgroups of free groups and surface groups (Q2674717)

Let \(F_n\) be the free group on \(\{x_1,\dots,x_n\}\). The commutator subgroup \([F_n,F_n]\) is an infinite-rank free group and its abelianization is a \(\mathbb{Z}[\mathbb{Z}^n]\) module. In this paper, the author addresses the following questions: \begin{itemize} \item[(1)] Is it possible to find a ``simple'' free generating set for the commutator subgroup of \(F_n\)? \item[(2)] What kind of \(\mathbb{Z}[\mathbb{Z}^n]\) module is the abelianization of the commutator subgroup of \(F_n\)? Is it possible to describe it in terms of simpler representations and calculate its homology? \end{itemize} \textit{W. Tomaszewski} [Can. Math. Bull. 46, No. 2, 299--303 (2003; Zbl 1031.20015)] constructed a simple free generating set for the commutator subgroup of a free group. Tomaszewski's proof of it was combinatorial and involved extensive calculations with commutator identities. In this paper, the author gives a new geometric proof of his theorem, that is calculation-free. The author also shows how to give a similar free generating set for the commutator subgroup of a surface group (Theorem B) and computes their homology. The author shows that the abelianization of \([F_2,F_2]\)is a free \(\mathbb{Z}[\mathbb{Z}^2]\) module, while for \(n \geq 3\), the abelianization of \([F_n,F_n]\) is not a free \(\mathbb{Z}[\mathbb{Z}^n]\) module (Theorem C). Theorems D, E and F describe the structure of the abelianization of \([F_n,F_n]\) as a \(\mathbb{Z}[\mathbb{Z}^n]\) module.