Series of \(p\)-groups with Beauville structure (Q314496)

Let \(G\) be a finite group. For \(x, y \in G\), write \(\Sigma(x, y)\) for the set-theoretic union of all subgroups of \(G\) conjugate to \(\langle x \rangle\), \(\langle y \rangle\), or \(\langle x y \rangle\). Then \(G\) is said to be a Beauville group if it is \(2\)-generated, and there are two pairs \(\{ x_{1}, y_{1} \}\), \(\{ x_{2}, y_{2} \}\) of generators such that \(\Sigma(x_{1}, y_{1}) \cap \Sigma(x_{2}, y_{2}) = \emptyset\). The pairs \(\{ x_{1}, y_{1} \}\), \(\{ x_{2}, y_{2} \}\) (or sometimes, as in the paper under review, the triples \(\{ x_{1}, y_{1}, x_{1} y_{1} \}\), \(\{ x_{2}, y_{2} , x_{2} y_{2}\}\) or variations thereof) are said to form a(n unmixed) Beauville structure on \(G\). There is a related concept of a Beauville surface of unmixed type. \textit{F. Catanese} [Am.\ J.\ Math.\ 122, No.~1, 1--44 (2000; Zbl 0983.14013)] showed that a finite abelian group has a Beauville structure if and only if it is the direct product of two cyclic groups of order \(n > 1\), with \(n\) coprime to \(6\). \textit{B. Fairbairn} et al. [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 107, No. 4, 744--798 (2013; Zbl 1286.20013); Corrigendum 107, No. 5, 1220 (2013; Zbl 1286.20013)] showed that all finite quasisimple groups have a Beauville structure, with the exception of \(A_{5}\) and \(\mathrm{SL}_{2}(5)\). In the paper under review, it is shown that every finite \(p\)-group which has a Beauville structure is part of an infinite projective system of finite \(p\)-groups with compatible Beauville structure. As a corollary, for every prime there are infinitely many finite \(p\)-groups with a Beauville structure. The construction of the projective system is not explicit, but an explicit example, in which all groups are metabelian, is constructed.