Decomposing \(p\)-groups via Jordan algebras. (Q1048202)

A `central decomposition' of a group \(G\) is a set \(\mathcal H\) of subgroups in which distinct members commute, and \(G\) is generated by \(\mathcal H\) but by no proper subset. A group is `centrally indecomposable' if its only central decomposition consists of the group itself. A central decomposition is `fully refined' if it consists of centrally indecomposable subgroups. It is proved that for finite \(p\)-groups \(P\) of class \(2\) and exponent \(p\) the following are invariants of fully refined central decompositions of \(P\): the number of members, the multiset of orders of the members, and the multiset of orders of the centers of the members. Unlike for direct product decompositions, \(\Aut\,P\) is not always transitive on the set of fully refined central decompositions, and the number of orbits of \(\Aut\,P\) can be any positive number. The proof involves bilinear maps and non-associative rings (including Jordan rings), but not the nilpotent Lie rings usually associated with \(p\)-groups.