The torsion-free one-relator product conjecture

Let AA and BB be torsion-free groups, set H=ABH=A\star B, and let \savebox{\@brx}{\m@th{\langle}}% \mathopen{\copy\@brx\kern-0.5\wd\@brx\usebox{\@brx}} w\savebox{\@brx}{\m@th{\rangle}}% \mathclose{\copy\@brx\kern-0.5\wd\@brx\usebox{\@brx}} be the normal subgroup generated by wHw\in H. The torsion-free one-relator product conjecture. The quotient

H/\savebox{\@brx}{$\m@th{\langle}$}% \mathopen{\copy\@brx\kern-0.5\wd\@brx\usebox{\@brx}} w\savebox{\@brx}{$\m@th{\rangle}$}% \mathclose{\copy\@brx\kern-0.5\wd\@brx\usebox{\@brx}}

is nontrivial for every wHw\in H. This is the two-factor torsion-free case of the nontriviality problem for one-relator products. It remains open in general; the special case with one factor equal to Z\mathbb Z follows from Klyachko's theorem.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Lvzhou Chen, “The Kervaire conjecture and the minimal complexity of surfaces”, arXiv:2302.09811 (2025).

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