Amalgamated sums of groups

Abstract

Groups called amalgamated sums that arise as inductive limits of systems of groups and injective homomorphisms are studied. The problem is to find conditions under which the groups in the system do not collapse in the limit. Such a condition is given by J. Tits when certain subsystems are associated to buildings. This condition can be phrased to apply to certain systems of abstract groups and injective homomorphisms. It is shown to imply that no collapse occurs in the limit in a strong sense; namely the natural homomorphism of the amalgamated sum of any subsystem into the amalgamated sum of the full system is injective. This answers a question of S. J. Pride.