A Magnus theorem for some amalgamated products

Abstract

A group $G$ possesses the Magnus property if for every two elements $u,v \in G$ with the same normal closure, $u$ is conjugate in $G$ to $v$ or $v^{-1}$. We prove the Magnus property for some amalgamated products including the fundamental group of a closed non-orientable surface of genus 3. This answers a question of O. Bogopolski and K. Sviridov, who obtained the analogous result for genus $g > 3$.