On the \(p\)-modular cohomology algebra of a finite \(p\)-group and a theorem of Serre. (Q877979)

Let \(P\) be finite \(p\)-group, and let \(H^*(P)=H^*(R,\mathbb{F}_p )=\bigoplus^\infty_{i=0}H^i(P,\mathbb{F}_p)\) denote the \(p\)-modular cohomology algebra of \(P\). A theorem of \textit{J.-P. Serre} [Topology 3, 413-420 (1965; Zbl 0136.27402)] states that if \(P\) is a \(p\)-group which is not elementary Abelian, then there exist non-zero elements \(u_1,u_2,\dots,u_m\in H^1(P,\mathbb{F}_p)\) such that \[ \prod^{m}_{i=1}u_i=0\text{ if }p=2\quad\text{and}\quad\prod^m_{i=1}\beta(u_i)=0\text{ if }p>2, \tag{*} \] where \(\beta\) is the Bockstein homomorphism. The smallest integer \(m\) such that relation (*) is satisfied is referred to as the `cohomology length' of \(P\), and is denoted by \(\mathbf{chl}(P)\). If \(P\) is a \(p\)-group which is not \(p\)-central then a `representing set' \(S\) of \(P\) is a subset that includes at least one non-central element from each maximal elementary Abelian subgroup of \(P\) and \(\mathbf{s}(P)\) denotes the minimum cardinality of a representing set of \(P\). \textit{E. Yalçin} [J. Algebra 245, No. 1, 50-67 (2001; Zbl 1004.20030)] has shown that: If \(P\) is an extra-special \(p\)-group which is not \(p\)-central, then \(\mathbf{chl}(P)\leq\mathbf{s}(P)\). Moreover, if \(P\) has a self-centralizing maximal elementary Abelian subgroup, then equality holds. This was used to prove Theorem. If \(P\) is a \(p\)-group and \(k=\dim_{\mathbb{F}_p}H^1(P,\mathbb{F}_p)\), then if \(k\leq 3\): \(\mathbf{chl}(P)\leq p+1\), and for \(k>3\): \(\mathbf{chl}(P)\leq(p^2+p-1)p^{\lfloor k/2\rfloor-2}\). In this note the author solves Problem 7.2 of Yalçin [loc. cit.] which asks for a calculation of \(\mathbf{chl}(P)\) in terms of \(n\) and \(p\) when \(P\) is in a certain class of extra-special \(p\)-groups of order \(p^{2n+1}\). Note that for this class of extra-special \(p\)-groups \(\mathbf{chl}(P)=\mathbf{s}(P)\). For this class of extra-special \(p\)-groups \(P\) of order \(p^{2n+1}\) and \(p\) odd the author obtains that: \(p^{n-2}(p^2 +(\sqrt 2-1)-5/2)+1\leq\mathbf{chl}(P)\leq p^{n-2}(p^2+p-1)\). Moreover, \[ p^{n-2}(\mathbf{chl}(P_2 )-1)+1\leq\mathbf{chl}(P)\leq p^{n-2}\cdot\mathbf{chl}(P_2), \] where \(P_2\) is a certain extra-special \(p\)-group of order \(p^5\).