Simple closed curves, word length, and nilpotent quotients of free groups

DOI10.2140/PJM.2011.254.67zbMATH Open1239.57003arXiv1009.0332OpenAlexW2963609404MaRDI QIDQ411883FDOQ411883

Authors: Khalid Bou-Rabee, Asaf Hadari 

Publication date: 2 May 2012

Published in: Pacific Journal of Mathematics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We consider the fundamental group $pi$ of a surface of finite type equipped with the infinite generating set consisting of all simple closed curves. We show that every nilpotent quotient of $pi$ has finite diameter with respect to the word metric given by this set. This is in contrast with a result of Danny Calegari that shows that $pi$ has infinite diameter with respect to this set. Furthermore, we give a general criterion for a finitely generated group equipped with a generating set to have this property.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1009.0332

Recommendations

• A remark on the word length in surface groups
• Nilpotent groups without exactly polynomial Dehn function.
• On the self-intersections of curves deep in the lower central series of a surface group
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4012892
• Word length in surface groups with characteristic generating sets

zbMATH Keywords

nilpotent groupssimple closed curvesword length

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Residual properties and generalizations; residually finite groups (20E26) Fundamental group, presentations, free differential calculus (57M05)

Cited In (4)

• Word length in surface groups with characteristic generating sets
• On the self-intersections of curves deep in the lower central series of a surface group
• The cancellation norm and the geometry of bi-invariant word metrics
• A remark on the word length in surface groups

This page was built for publication: Simple closed curves, word length, and nilpotent quotients of free groups

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q411883)