The number of conjugacy classes of nonnormal subgroups of finite \(p\)-groups (Q308098): Difference between revisions

For a finite group \(G\), let \(\nu(G)\) denote the number of conjugacy classes of non-normal subgroups of \(G\). Let \(p\) be a prime and \(G\) a finite \(p\)-group. It was shown by \textit{R. La Haye} and \textit{A. Rhemtulla} [J. Algebra 214, No. 1, 41--63 (1999; Zbl 0921.20042)], that either \(\nu(G)\leq 1\) or \(\nu(G)\geq p\). Thus, not every integer occurs as \(\nu(G)\) for a \(p\)-group \(G\) (\(p\) fixed); there is a gap. The \(p\)-groups \(G\) with \(\nu(G)=p\) and \(\nu(G)=p+1\) have been determined by \textit{G. A. Fernández-Alcober} and \textit{L. Legarreta} [Isr. J. Math. 180, 189--192 (2010; Zbl 1215.20018)] and the reviewer [ibid. 195, Part A, 473--479 (2013; Zbl 1283.20012)]. In this interesting paper, these results are greatly extended. It is shown that for a \(p\)-group \(G\) with \(p>2\), one has \(\nu(G)\in\{0,1,p,p+1,p+2,p+3,2p-1,2p\}\) or \(\nu(G)>2p\). In addition, all \(p\)-group with \(\nu(G)\leq 2p\) are classified (\(p\neq 2\)). Thus, for \(p\geq 5\), there is (at least) one other gap. This answers a question of the reviewer [in: Ischia group theory 2010. Proceedings of the conference in group theory, Ischia, Naples, Italy, April 14--17, 2010. Hackensack, NJ: World Scientific. 39--44 (2012; Zbl 1294.20019)]. It would be interesting to know what happens for \(p=3\). Indeed, is it true that for every \(n\neq 2\) there exists a 3-group \(G\) with \(\nu(G)=n\)?