On the concept of ``largeness'' in group theory. (Q848514)

The article is a study of the Borel complexity of the following relations first introduced by \textit{S. J. Pride} [Word problems II, Stud. Logic Found. Math. Vol. 95, 299-335 (1980; Zbl 0438.20023)]: \(G_1\) is larger than \(G_2\) (\(G_1\succeq G_2\)) if there are finite-index subgroups \(H_i\leq G_i\) and a finite normal subgroup \(N_2\triangleleft H_2\) such that \(H_1\) surjects onto \(H_2/N_2\). This induces an equivalence relation \(G_1\approx G_2\): iff \(G_1\succeq G_2\) and \(G_2\succeq G_1\). The main results are Theorems 1.4 and 1.7, stating that on the set of finitely generated groups with fixed countable base, \(\approx\) (resp. the bi-surjectability equivalence relation) is a universal \(K_\sigma\) equivalence relation. -- The proofs mostly rely on combinatorial group theory.