Dense embeddings of surface groups

Abstract

We discuss dense embeddings of surface groups and fully residually free groups in topological groups. We show that a compact topological group contains a nonabelian dense free group of finite rank if and only if it contains a dense surface group. Also, we obtain a characterization of those Lie groups which admit a dense faithfully embedded surface group. Similarly, we show that any connected semisimple Lie group contains a dense copy of any fully residually free group.

This is the version published by Geometry & Topology on 4 October 2006