Dehn functions of amalgamations and strongly undistorted subgroups
by
Jon Corson
University of Alabama
Coauthors: Stephen Brick (University of South Alabama)

We study the Dehn functions of amalgamations, introducing the notion of strongly undistorted subgroups. Using this, we give conditions under which taking an amalgamation does not increase the Dehn function, generalizing one aspect of the combination theorem of Bestvina and Feighn.

To obtain examples of strongly undistorted subgroups, we define and study the relative Dehn function of pairs of groups. Using this we obtain a new method of constructing examples of pairs of groups that are relatively hyperbolic in the sense of Farb.

Date received: May 13, 1999

Copyright © 1999 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # cada-03.