Variations on a theorem by Alan Camina on conjugacy class sizes. (Q2368803): Difference between revisions

In 1972, A. Camina proved that if \(G\) is a finite group whose conjugacy class sizes are 1, \(p^a\), \(q^b\), \(p^aq^b\) for primes \(p\) and \(q\), then \(G\) is nilpotent. (Note that from the hypothesis and Burnside's \(p^aq^b\)-theorem it easily follows that \(G\) must be solvable in this situation.) In the paper under review the authors consider the situation where the class sizes are 1, \(m\), \(n\), \(mn\) with \((m,n)=1\). According to a conjecture of Camina, \(G\) then must be solvable, but this problem remains open. If, however, \(G\) is assumed to be solvable, the authors prove that \(G\) is nilpotent and \(m\) and \(n\) are both prime powers. The proof is quite technical and the authors do not use Camina's result, but rather give a new proof of it along the way.