(Non-)Recognizing Spaces for Stable Subgroups

Abstract

In this note, we consider the notion of what we call recognizing spaces for stable subgroups of a given group. When a group $G$ is a mapping class group or right-angled Artin group, it is known that a subgroup is stable exactly when the largest acylindrical action $G\curvearrowright X$ provides a quasi-isometric embedding of the subgroup into $X$ via the orbit map. In this sense the largest acylindrical action for mapping class groups and right-angled Artin groups provides a recognizing space for all stable subgroups. In contrast, we construct an acylindrically hyperbolic group (relatively hyperbolic, in fact) whose largest acylindrical action does not recognize all stable subgroups.

12 pages, 1 figure. To appear in Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society