Frattini subgroups of hyperbolic-like groups (Q6597491)

The Frattini subgroup \(\Phi(G)\) of a group \(G\) is the intersection of all maximal subgroups of \(G\); if \(G\) has no maximal subgroups, \(\Phi(G)=G\) by definition.\N\NThe paper under review is motivated by the observation that the Frattini subgroup of groups with hyperbolic-like geometry is often small in a suitable sense. For instance, it is not hard to show that \(\Phi(G)=1\) whenever \(G\) is the free product of two non-trivial groups, as shown by \textit{G. Higman} and \textit{B. H. Neumann} [J. Lond. Math. Soc. 29, 84--88 (1954; Zbl 0055.01602)].\N\NThe authors prove Theorem 1.2: Let \(S\) be a hyperbolic space. For any countable, general type subgroup \(G\) of \(\textrm{Isom}(S)\), the action of \(\Phi(G)\) on \(S\) has bounded orbits. In particular, \(|G:\Phi(G)|=\infty\).\N\NIn contrast, for any finitely generated non-cyclic group \(Q\) with \(\Phi(Q)=1\), the authors construct an infinite lacunary hyperbolic group \(L\) such \(L/\Phi(L) \simeq Q\) and hence the Frattini subgroup of an infinite lacunary hyperbolic group can have finite index. As an application, they obtain the first examples of invariably generated, infinite, lacunary hyperbolic groups.