On abstract commensurators of surface groups

Let $Gamma$ be the fundamental group of a surface of finite type and Comm$(Gamma)$ be its abstract commensurator. Then Comm$(Gamma)$ contains the solvable Baumslag--Solitar groups $langle a ,b : a b a^{-1} = b^n rangle$ for any $n > 1$. Moreover, the Baumslag--Solitar group $langle a ,b : a b^2 a^{-1} = b^3 rangle$ has an image in Comm$(Gamma)$ that is not residually finite. Our proofs are computer-assisted. Our results also illustrate that finitely-generated subgroups of Comm$(Gamma)$ are concrete objects amenable to computational methods. For example, we give a proof that $langle a ,b : a b^2 a^{-1} = b^3 rangle$ is not residually finite without the use of normal forms of HNN extensions.