Generating groups by conjugation-invariant sets. (Q2909801)

The authors consider a form of the Bergman property restricted to conjugation-invariant sets of a group. Namely, a group \(G\) is said to have finite \(C\)-width if, for every conjugation-invariant generating subset \(S\) of \(G\), there is an integer \(k\) such that \(S\) generates \(G\) in \(k\) steps. The authors give a number of examples, showing in particular that the derived subgroup \(F'\) of Thompson's group \(F\) has finite \(C\)-width. They show that the property is closed under formation of group extensions, and that the only free product of non-trivial groups with the property is the dihedral one. They finally consider abstract functions similar to length functions and their relations to cofinalities.