Embedding properties of hereditarily just infinite profinite wreath products (Q511860)

Given a sequence \({\mathcal S} = (S_k)_{k \in {\mathbb N} \cup 0}\) of finite transitive permutation groups with \(S_k \leq {\roman {Sym}} (\Omega_k)\), one can construct an inverse system of finite iterated wreath products w.r.t. product actions, i.e., \(W_1^{pa}= S_0\) and \(W_n^{pa} = S_{n-1} \wr W_{n-1}^{pa}\). This gives rise to the inverse limit \(W^{pa}({\mathcal S}) = \lim_{\leftarrow} W_n^{pa}\) known as the infinitely iterated wreath product of type \({\mathcal S}\) w.r.t. product actions. It is known that if the sequence \({\mathcal S}\) consists of finite non-abelian simple permutation groups then \(W^{pa}({\mathcal S})\) is a finitely generated hereditarily just infinite profinite group that is not virtually pro-\(p\) for any prime \(p\). By studying the embedding properties of such groups, the authors obtain the following nice result. For every non-empty class of finite simple groups \({\mathcal X}\), there exists a finitely generated hereditarily just infinite profinite group \(W\) with composition factors in \({\mathcal X}\) such that any countably based profinite group with composition factors in \({\mathcal X}\) can be embedded into \(W\). The authors also explore when such constructions yield co-Hopfian or non-co-Hopfian groups. Recall, a profinite group \(G\) is co-Hopfian if there does not exist a proper closed subgroup \(H\) of \(G\) such that \(H\) and \(G\) are isomorphic. In particular, the authors prove that if \({\mathcal S}=(S_k)\) is a sequence of non-trivial finite permutation groups such that the terms of \({\mathcal S}\) are eventually permutationally isomorphic to subgroups of later terms, then \(W^{pa}({\mathcal S})\) is non-co-Hopfian.