Residual properties of free groups (Q5894746)

\textit{W. Magnus} [Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 75, 305-316 (1969; Zbl 0196.047)] pointed out the importance of constructing classes \(X\) of finite simple groups such that the free group \(F_ 2\) of rank 2 is residually \(X\), i.e. the intersection of all normal subgroups \(N \triangleleft F_ 2\) with \(F_ 2/N \in X\) is the trivial group. The group \(F_ 2\) is residually \(X\), if \(X\) contains an infinite set of alternating groups of odd degrees (R. Kats, W. Magnus, 1969) or even degrees (J. Wiegold, 1977). Then [\textit{Yu. Gorchakov, V. Levchuk}, Algebra Logika 9, No. 4, 415-421 (1970; Zbl 0221.20034)], the question (A) was raised: Is it true that \(F_ 2\) is residually \(X\) for each infinite set \(X\) (of isomorphism types) of non-abelian finite simple groups? There, and [in \textit{V. Levchuk}, Approximations of free groups by factors of groups \(GL(3,q)\), - - ``Some questions of group and ring theory'', Krasnoyarsk, 123-149 (1973)], a positive answer is obtained for classes \(X\) of classical groups of degrees 2 or 3. J. Wilson (1991) proved conjecture (A) for classes of groups \(PSL(n,q)\), \(n\) a fixed number. The author proves that conjecture (A) is fulfilled for each infinite class \(X\) of classical finite simple groups, if the corresponding set of Lie-ranks is unbounded (in this article) or bounded [in Part II, Commun. Algebra 20, 1395-1425 (1992; Zbl 0751.20025)]. Thus, modulo the classification of finite simple groups, (A) is reduced to exceptional Lie-type groups. The remaining cases were partially studied by V. Levchuk and Ya. Nuzhin (1972, 1985), A. Lubotski (1986).