Structure of quasiconvex virtual joins (Q6994479)

A subgroup is separable if it is closed in the profinite topology of the ambient group. For example, a group is residually finite if the trivial group is separable. A group is LERF (locally extended to residually finite) if every finitely generated subgroup is separable. Quasi-convex subgroups of a hyperbolic group are themselves hyperbolic. The intersection of two quasi-convex subgroups \(Q,R\) of a hyperbolic group is again quasi-convex. The join \(\langle Q,\, R \rangle\) may not be. However, if \(Q\) and \(R\) are LERF, there is a virtual amalgam theorem: there are finite index subgroups \(Q'\leq Q\), \(R'\leq R\) such that the virtual join \(\langle R', Q'\rangle\) is quasi-convex and moreover, isomorphic to the amalgamated free product \(R'*_{R\cap Q}Q'\) [\textit{R. Gitik}, J. Algebra 217, No. 1, 65--72 (1999; Zbl 0936.20019)].\N\NThis paper studies joins \(\langle Q,\, R \rangle\) of relatively quasi-convex finitely generated subgroups of a relatively hyperbolic group. A relatively hyperbolic group \(G\) is QCERF is every finitely generated relatively quasi-convex subgroup is separable. A previous result shows the existence of quasi-convex virtual joints under the assumptions that the ambient group \(G\) is QCERF and hyperbolic relative to double coset separable subgroups [\textit{A. Minasyan} and the author, Algebr. Geom. Topol. 25, No. 1, 399--488 (2025; Zbl 1562.20052)]. From the introduction: ``The main goal of this paper is that \(Q'\) and \(R'\) can be chosen such that the intersection of \(\langle Q',\, R'\rangle\) with a maximal parabolic subgroup in \(G\) is, up to conjugacy, itself a join of maximal parabolic subgroups of \(Q'\) and \(R'\).''\N\NA consequence is a virtual amalgam theorem for almost compatible subgroups a finitely generated QCERF relatively hyperbolic group (Corollary 1.5). Given a maximal parabolic subgroup \(P\leq G\), \(Q\) and \(R\) are almost compatible if \(Q\cap R \cap P\) is of finite index in \(Q\cap P\) or \(R\cap P\). This extends a previous result on discrete subgroups of \(\text{Isom}(\mathbb H^n)\) [\textit{M. Baker} and \textit{D. Cooper}, J. Topol. 1, No. 3, 603--642 (2008; Zbl 1151.57014)]. The author gives an example where the conclusion fails if the respective subgroups are not almost compatible.\N\NThe proofs are based on a detailed analysis of path representatives of parabolic elements as developed by \textit{A. Minasyan} and the author [Algebr. Geom. Topol. 25, No. 1, 399--488 (2025; Zbl 1562.20052)]. An excellent overview of the topic is given in a paper of the author with Minasyan [loc. cit.]. A strong point of the present paper is its generality. Indeed, as the author explains the results of the paper cover the results of previous studies of virtual joins in relatively hyperbolic groups.