No label defined (Q4946068)

Let \(G=\langle A\rangle\) be a finitely generated subgroup of a finitely presented group \(H=\langle B\rangle\); \(A,B\) sets of generators. The authors give four conditions (D1-D4) which the length function \(l\colon G\to\mathbb{N}\) of the embedding \(\langle A\rangle\subset\langle B\rangle\) satisfies. They prove that for every finitely generated \(G\) and every function \(l\colon G\to\mathbb{N}\) satisfying D1-D4 there exists an embedding \(G<H\) into a finitely presented group \(H\) such that the length function of the embedding is equivalent to \(l\). (\(l_1\) and \(l_2\) are equivalent, if there is a constant \(c\) such that \(l_1(g)\leq c\cdot l_2(g)\), \(l_2(g)\leq c\cdot l_1(g)\), \(g\in G\).) The characterization of length functions obtained is used to give a complete answer to a question of Gromov about the length of a power of an element of infinite order in a finitely presented group. The proofs are based on former results of the first author. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0933.00033].