Infinite simple characteristic quotients

We construct continuum many infinite, simple, characteristic quotients of non-abelian free groups, answering a 1978 question of James Wiegold. The method is very flexible, allowing to impose certain properties on the quotients, to generalize the construction to large classes of groups with hyperbolic features, and to produce quasi-isometrically diverse examples.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal de l’École polytechnique — Mathématiques
Published
2026-09-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5802/jep.352
Primary Topic
Geometric and Algebraic Topology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Infinite simple characteristic quotients

Rémi Coulon, Francesco Fournier-Facio
Journal de l’École polytechnique — Mathématiques
Geometric and Algebraic Topology
article

Infinite simple characteristic quotients

Rémi Coulon, Francesco Fournier-Facio
article en

Abstract

We construct continuum many infinite, simple, characteristic quotients of non-abelian free groups, answering a 1978 question of James Wiegold. The method is very flexible, allowing to impose certain properties on the quotients, to generalize the construction to large classes of groups with hyperbolic features, and to produce quasi-isometrically diverse examples.

Journal de l’École polytechnique — MathématiquesVol. 13
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Université de Bourgogne (FR), University of Cambridge (GB), Institut de Mathématiques de Bourgogne (FR), Université Bourgogne Europe (FR)
Agence Nationale de la Recherche
Openalex Percentile: Top 96%
Geometric and Algebraic Topology
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