Generalised Triangle Groups of Type (2,4,2)

Abstract

A conjecture of Rosenberger says that a group of the form $⟨x,y|x^p=y^q=W(x,y{)}^r=1⟩$ (with $r>1$) is either virtually solvable or contains a non-abelian free subgroup. This note is an account of an attack on the conjecture in the case $(p,q,r)=(2,4,2)$. The results obtained are only partial, but nevertheless provide strong evidence in support of the conjecture in the case in question, in that the word $W$ in any counterexample is shown to satisfy some strong restrictions. The exponent-sums of $x$ and $y$ in $W$ must be even and odd respectively, while its free-product (or syllable) length must be at least 68. There is also a report of computer investigations which yield a stronger lower bound of 196 for the free-product length.

14 pages