Previously, the authors proved that the presentation complex of a one-relator group $G$ satisfies a geometric condition called negative immersions if every two-generator, one-relator subgroup of $G$ is free. Here, we prove that one-relator groups wit
h negative immersions are coherent, answering a question of Baumslag in this case. Other strong constraints on the finitely generated subgroups also follow such as, for example, the co-Hopf property. The main new theorem strengthens negative immersions to uniform negative immersions, using a rationality theorem proved with linear-programming techniques.
Surface groups are determined among limit groups by their profinite completions. As a corollary, the set of surface words in a free group is closed in the profinite topology.
We show that any one-relator group $G=F/langlelangle wranglerangle$ with torsion is coherent -- i.e., that every finitely generated subgroup of $G$ is finitely presented -- answering a 1974 question of Baumslag in this case.
We prove a freeness theorem for low-rank subgroups of one-relator groups. Let $F$ be a free group, and let $win F$ be a non-primitive element. The primitivity rank of $w$, $pi(w)$, is the smallest rank of a subgroup of $F$ containing $w$ as an imprim
itive element. Then any subgroup of the one-relator group $G=F/langlelangle wranglerangle$ generated by fewer than $pi(w)$ elements is free. In particular, if $pi(w)>2$ then $G$ doesnt contain any Baumslag--Solitar groups. The hypothesis that $pi(w)>2$ implies that the presentation complex $X$ of the one-relator group $G$ has negative immersions: if a compact, connected complex $Y$ immerses into $X$ and $chi(Y)geq 0$ then $Y$ is Nielsen equivalent to a graph. The freeness theorem is a consequence of a dependence theorem for free groups, which implies several classical facts about free and one-relator groups, including Magnus Freiheitssatz and theorems of Lyndon, Baumslag, Stallings and Duncan--Howie. The dependence theorem strengthens Wises $w$-cycles conjecture, proved independently by the authors and Helfer--Wise, which implies that the one-relator complex $X$ has non-positive immersions when $pi(w)>1$.
The profinite completion of the fundamental group of a closed, orientable $3$-manifold determines the Kneser--Milnor decomposition. If $M$ is irreducible, then the profinite completion determines the Jaco--Shalen--Johannson decomposition of $M$.
Answering a question asked by Agol and Wise, we show that a desired stronger form of Wises malnormal special quotient theorem does not hold. The counterexamples are generalizations of triangle groups, built using the Ramanujan graphs constructed by Lubotzky--Phillips--Sarnak.
A well known question of Gromov asks whether every one-ended hyperbolic group $Gamma$ has a surface subgroup. We give a positive answer when $Gamma$ is the fundamental group of a graph of free groups with cyclic edge groups. As a result, Gromovs ques
tion is reduced (modulo a technical assumption on 2-torsion) to the case when $Gamma$ is rigid. We also find surface subgroups in limit groups. It follows that a limit group with the same profinite completion as a free group must in fact be free, which answers a question of Remeslennikov in this case.
We completely describe the finitely generated pro-$p$ subgroups of the profinite completion of the fundamental group of an arbitrary $3$-manifold. We also prove a pro-$p$ analogue of the main theorem of Bass--Serre theory for finitely generated pro-$p$ groups.
If $M$ is a compact 3-manifold whose first betti number is 1, and $N$ is a compact 3-manifold such that $pi_1N$ and $pi_1M$ have the same finite quotients, then $M$ fibres over the circle if and only if $N$ does. We prove that groups of the form $F_2
rtimesmathbb{Z}$ are distinguished from one another by their profinite completions. Thus, regardless of betti number, if $M$ and $N$ are punctured torus bundles over the circle and $M$ is not homeomorphic to $N$, then there is a finite group $G$ such that one of $pi_1M$ and $pi_1N$ maps onto $G$ and the other does not.
We prove that the profinite completion of the fundamental group of a compact 3-manifold $M$ satisfies a Tits alternative: if a closed subgroup $H$ does not contain a free pro-$p$ subgroup for any $p$, then $H$ is virtually soluble, and furthermore of
a very particular form. In particular, the profinite completion of the fundamental group of a closed, hyperbolic 3-manifold does not contain a subgroup isomorphic to $hat{mathbb{Z}}^2$. This gives a profinite characterization of hyperbolicity among irreducible 3-manifolds. We also characterize Seifert fibred 3-manifolds as precisely those for which the profinite completion of the fundamental group has a non-trivial procyclic normal subgroup. Our techniques also apply to hyperbolic, virtually special groups, in the sense of Haglund and Wise. Finally, we prove that every finitely generated pro-$p$ subgroup of the profinite completion of a torsion-free, hyperbolic, virtually special group is free pro-$p$.
