We show that every countable group H with solvable word problem can be subnormally embedded into a 2-generated group G which also has solvable word problem. Moreover, the membership problem for H < G is also solvable. We also give estimates of time and space complexity of the word problem in G and of the membership problem for H < G.
IntroductionIn the famous paper [8] by Higman, B.H.Neumann and H. Neumann in 1949, using constructions based on HNN-extensions, it was shown that every countable group can be embedded in a group generated by two elements. Later, B.H. Neumann and H. Neumann suggested an alternative embedding construction based on wreath products [15], which allowed them to show that every countable solvable group can be embedded in a 2-generated solvable group. Further development of these ideas was done by Hall [7]. Subsequently, other constructions based on this ideas were introduced, where the 2-generated group inherited some other properties of the initial group. Most of the aforementioned embedding constructions were motivated either by the desire to better control the algebraic structure or geometric properties of the embedding, but none of the constructions based on wreath products was