Torsion-free covers of solvable minimax groups

Abstract

We prove that every finitely generated solvable minimax group can be realized as a quotient of a torsion-free solvable minimax group. This result has an application to the investigation of random walks on finitely generated solvable minimax groups. Our methods also allow us to completely characterize the solvable minimax groups that are homomorphic images of torsion-free solvable minimax groups.