Groups in which commutativity is a transitive relation (Q1270104): Difference between revisions

A group \(G\) is said to be a \(CT\)-group if commutativity is a transitive relation in the set of all non-trivial elements of \(G\). This is clearly equivalent to the property that the centralizers of all non-trivial elements of \(G\) are abelian. Clearly the Fitting subgroup of any \(CT\)-group is abelian. The author provides here a correct proof of a result of \textit{L. Weisner} [Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 31, 413-416 (1925; JFM 51.0112.06)], showing that a finite soluble \(CT\)-group is the semidirect product of its Fitting subgroup \(F\) and a fixed-point-free cyclic group of automorphisms of \(F\). A similar result is also obtained for soluble locally finite \(CT\)-groups. In the investigation concerning such groups, a relevant role is played by periodic abelian groups admitting a periodic fixed-point-free group of automorphisms. Using some cohomological arguments the author also describes the structure of polycyclic \(CT\)-groups. Finally, he proves that all free soluble groups have the property \(CT\).