Some reflections on proving groups residually torsion-free nilpotent. I. (Q716405)

A group \(G\) is called `residually torsion-free nilpotent' if the intersection of its normal subgroups with torsion-free nilpotent quotients is trivial. In 1935, Wilhelm Magnus introduced associative algebras together with topology into the mix making it possible to prove that free groups are residually torsion-free nilpotent. The objective of the paper is to give some alternative proofs of Magnus' theorem. This approach gives rise to a new family of one-relator groups with this property. The family includes, among others, the fundamental groups of orientable surfaces. The author hopes that this approach will lead to new insights into these well-known groups, and a proof that free \(\mathbb Q\)-groups have the same property.