On the virtual potency of some groups and free constructions (Q2680486)

The author says a group \(G\) is potent if for every element \(x\) of \(G\) and positive integer \(n\), where \(n\) divides the order of \(x\) if \(x\) has finite order (no further restriction if \(x\) has infinite order), there is a homomorphism of \(G\) into a finite group with the image of \(x\) of order \(n\). If \(\pi\) is a non-empty set of primes, then \(G\) is \(\pi\)-potent if, in the above definition, \(n\) is restricted to just the \(\pi\) numbers. The author also considers various other weakenings of the above, which he calls virtually potent, weakly potent and almost potent, and also the \(\pi\) versions of these. Note that all these versions of potency imply that \(G\) is residually finite. For simplicity and brevity we restrict our discussion below to just the potent and \(\pi\)-potent versions of the authors results. The simplest of the author's results is that polycyclic-by-finite groups are potent-by-finite. Let \(G\) be a residually finite, soluble-by-finite, minimax group and let \(\pi\) denote set of all primes \(p\) such that \(G\) does not involve a Prüfer \(p^\infty\)-group. Then \(G\) is (\(\pi\)-potent)-by-finite. Further suppose this \(G\) has isomorphic subgroups \(H\) and \(K\) of finite index such that \(H\neq G\neq K\). Then the corresponding HNN extension \(G^*\) of \(G\) amalgamating \(H\) and \(K\) along this isomorphism is also (\(\pi\)-potent)-by-finite. (If \(H\) or \(K\) equals \(G\), then \(G^*\) is at least (\(\pi_1\)-potent)-by-finite for some cofinite subset \(\pi_1\) of \(\pi\).) The author also considers the Baumslag-Solitar HNN groups \[ G(m, n) = \langle a, b ; b^{-1} a^m b = an \rangle. \] For example, he proves that \(G(m, n)\) is potent-by-finite whenever \(|m| = |n|\).