Splitting theorems for pro-\(p\) groups acting on pro-\(p\) trees (Q739816)

The main theorem of the Bass-Serre theory of groups acting on trees states that a group \(G\) acting on a tree \(T\) is the fundamental group of a connected graph of groups whose vertex and edge groups are the stabilizers of certain vertices and edges of \(T.\) The pro-\(p\) version of this theorem, and of its main consequences, does not hold in general. However, the authors of this paper prove that this kind of results hold for infinite finitely generated pro-\(p\) groups acting virtually freely on pro-\(p\) trees: if \(G\) is an infinite finitely generated pro-\(p\) group acting on a pro-\(p\) tree such that the restriction of the action to some open subgroup is free, then \(G\) splits over an edge stabilizer either as an amalgamated free pro-\(p\) product or as a pro-\(p\) HNN-extension; moreover \(G\) is isomorphic to the fundamental pro-\(p\) group of a finite connected graph of finite \(p\)-groups whose edge and vertex groups are isomorphic to the stabilizers of some edges and vertices of \(T.\) Using this result, it is proved that, under a certain condition, free pro-\(p\) products with procyclic amalgamation inherit from its amalgamated free factors the property of each 2-generated pro-\(p\) subgroup being free pro-\(p\) (a pro-\(p\) version of a fundamental classical result of G. Baumslag).