Central extensions of groups and an embedding question of J. H. C. Whitehead (Q2277576)

Given two groups \(G\) and \(H\) acting on one another, under what conditions does there exist a group \(P\) containing each of \(G\) and \(H\) as subgroups, so that the given actions are realised by conjugation in \(P\)? The paper approaches this question by considering a universal solution group, through which all embeddings into suitable groups \(P\) must factorise. The universal solution group is the Peiffer product \(G\bowtie H\) constructed as follows: \(G\bowtie H\) is the quotient of the free product \(G*H\) by the normal closure of all elements of the form \(g^{- 1}h^{-1}gh^ g\) and \(h^{-1}g^{-1}hg^ h\) where \(g\in G\) and \(h\in H\). We now ask under what conditions do \(G\) and \(H\) embed canonically into \(G\bowtie H\)? Some general remarks are made on the structure of Peiffer products, and answers to the embedding question given in certain cases, under a compatibility constraint on the actions involved. The main result of the paper is a full answer to the embedding question when \(G\) and \(H\) are central extensions by some common quotient \(Q\) and act on one another via \(Q\). In this circumstance, \(G\) and \(H\) embed in \(G\bowtie H\) if and only if the central extensions are isoclinic. Isoclinism is an equivalence relation defined for central extensions by Philip Hall: it ensures that the commutator subgroups of \(G\) and \(H\) are isomorphic via an isomorphism compatible with the formation of commutators of pairs of elements lifted from \(Q\). The Peiffer product had previously been used in the study of isoclinism by \textit{N. S. Hekster} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 40, 63-85 (1986; Zbl 0593.20040)].