On right \(n\)-Engel subgroups. (Q994290): Difference between revisions

Let \(n\) be a non-negative integer and let \(G\) be a group. For any two elements \(x,y\in G\), the \(n\)-Engel word \([y,{_nx}]\) is defined recursively by \([y,{_0x}]=y\) and \([y,{_{n+1}x}]=[[y,{_nx}],x]\), where \([a,b]=[a,{_1b}]=a^{-1}b^{-1}ab\) for any \(a,b\in G\). Recall that an element \(a\in G\) is called right \(n\)-Engel if \([a,{_ng}]=1\) for all \(g\in G\). A subgroup \(H\) of a group \(G\) is called right \(n\)-Engel if all the elements of \(H\) are right \(n\)-Engel elements of \(G\). A subgroup \(H\) of a group \(G\) is called residually hypercentral if \(\bigcap_{i=0}^\infty[H,{_iG}]=1\). For any group \(G\) and any non-negative integer \(n\), \(Z_n(G)\) denotes the \((n+1)\)-st term of the upper central series of \(G\). Main results of the paper under review are the following. Theorem 1. Let \(G\) be a \(d\)-generator group and let \(H\) be a normal right \(n\)-Engel subgroup of \(G\) that is residually hypercentral. Then there exists an integer \(m=m(d,n)\), only depending on \(d\) and \(n\), such that \(H\leq Z_m(G)\). Theorem 2. Let \(G\) be a group with a normal right \(n\)-Engel subgroup \(H\) that is torsion-free and belongs to some term of the upper central series. Then there exists an integer \(m=m(n)\), only depending on \(n\), such that \(H\leq Z_m(G)\). Theorem 3. Let \(G\) be a group with a normal right \(n\)-Engel subgroup \(H\) that is residually hypercentral. Then there exist integers \(c(n)\), \(f(n)\), only depending on \(n\), such that \(H^{f(n)}\leq Z_{c(n)}(G)\). The proofs are based on the solution of the restricted Burnside problem by \textit{E. I. Zel'manov} [Math. USSR, Izv. 36, No. 1, 41-60 (1991); translation from Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Mat. 54, No. 1, 42-59 (1990; Zbl 0704.20030), Math. USSR, Sb. 72, No. 2, 543-565 (1992); translation from Mat. Sb. 182, No. 4, 568-592 (1991; Zbl 0752.20017))] and on another deep result due to \textit{E. I. Zel'manov} [Sov. Math., Dokl. 35, 44-47 (1987); translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 292, 265-268 (1987; Zbl 0625.17006)] which states: every \(n\)-Engel Lie algebra over any field of characteristic zero is nilpotent.