Let $pi_1(C)$ be the algebraic fundamental group of a smooth connected affine curve, defined over an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p>0$ of countable cardinality. Let $N$ be a normal (resp. characteristic) subgroup of $pi_1(C)$. Under the hypothesis that the quotient $pi_1(C)/N$ admits an infinitely generated Sylow $p$-subgroup, we prove that $N$ is indeed isomorphic to a normal (resp. characteristic) subgroup of a free profinite group of countable cardinality. As a consequence, every proper open subgroup of $N$ is a free profinite group of countable cardinality.
We study the subgroup structure of the etale fundamental group $Pi$ of a projective curve over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0. We obtain an analog of the diamond theorem for $Pi$. As a consequence we show that most normal subgroups of infinite index are semi-free. In particular every proper open subgroup of a normal subgroup of infinite index is semi-free.
Let $k$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p>0$ and let $C/k$ be a smooth connected affine curve. Denote by $pi_1(C)$ its algebraic fundamental group. The goal of this paper is to characterize a certain subset of closed normal subgroups $N$ of $pi_1(C)$. In Normal subgroups of fundamental groups of affine curves in positive characteristic we proved the same result under the additional hypothesis that $k$ had countable cardinality.
We study the properties of the fundamental group of an affine curve over an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p$, from the point of view of embedding problems. In characteristic zero, the fundamental group is free, but in characteristic $p$ it is not even $omega$-free. In this paper we show that it is almost $omega$-free, in the sense that each finite embedding problem has a proper solution when restricted to some open subgroup. We also prove that embedding problems can always be properly solved over the given curve if suitably many additional branch points are allowed, in locations that can be specified arbitrarily; this strengthens a result of the first author.
We prove a generalization of Shafarevichs Conjecture for fields of Laurent series in two variables over an arbitrary field. While not projective, the absolute Galois group of such a field is shown to be semi-free. We also show that the function field of a smooth projective curve over a large field has semi-free absolute Galois group. In the first edition of this paper it was shown that these groups are quasi-free, which is weaker.
