Generalized Baumslag-Solitar groups and geometric homomorphisms. (Q616318)

The Baumslag-Solitar groups \(BS(m,n)=\langle t,x\mid (x^m)^t=x^n\rangle\) and the groups \(K(m,n)=\langle x,y\mid x^m=y^n\rangle\) arise as graphs of groups with infinite cyclic edge and vertex groups -- for \(BS(m,n)\) the underlying graph consists of a single loop and for \(K(m,n)\) it consists of a single edge. Generalising these, a generalized Baumslag-Solitar group (GBS-group) is the fundamental group of any (finite, connected) graph of groups with infinite cyclic edge and vertex groups. The paper introduces the concept of geometric homomorphisms between GBS-groups (relative to maximal subtrees of the underlying graphs) and the related concept of geometric GBS-quotients. A GBS-group is said to be GBS-simple relative to maximal subtree (of its underlying graph) if it has no proper, non-cyclic, geometric GBS quotients. It is said to be GBS-free if it has no proper, non-cyclic quotients at all. The main result shows that the properties ``GBS-free'' and ``GBS-simple'' are identical and that they hold for a GBS-group \(G\) if and only if there exists a geometric isomorphism from \(G\) to one of \(BS(1,n)\), \(K(1,1)\), \(K(p,q)\), \(K(p,p^d)\), where \(n\in\mathbb Z^*\), \(p,q\) are distinct primes, and \(d>0\).