Relatively hyperbolic groups (Q5915451)

The study of relatively hyperbolic groups (that is, hyperbolicity of a group relative to a family of subgroups) is motivated by the following situation: let \(V\) be a complete noncompact Riemannian manifold of constant negative curvature with finite volume. Then \(V\) has finitely many ends \(E_1,\dots,E_k\), and the inclusions \(E_i\subset V\) induce injections \(\pi_1(E_i)\to\pi_1(V)\) for \(i=1,\dots,k\). The theory of relative hyperbolicity puts the study of the relation of \(\pi_1(V)\) with the subgroups \(\pi_1(E_i)\) in a broad context. There are two different definitions of relatively hyperbolic groups. The first one is due to \textit{M.~Gromov} and appears in his paper [in Essays in group theory, Publ., Math. Sci. Res. Inst. 8, 75-263 (1987; Zbl 0634.20015)], and the second one is due to \textit{B. Farb} [Geom. Funct. Anal. 8, No. 5, 810-840 (1998)]. In the paper under review, the author presents the two definitions and gives some examples, and he proves (by producing an appropriate example) that Gromov's definition is stronger than the one of Farb.