Normal group rings (Q1062120)

Let \(KG\) be the group ring of an arbitrary group \(G\) over a commutative ring \(K\) and let \(U(K)\) be the unit group of \(K\). Given a homomorphism \(f: G\to U(K)\), and \(x=\sum_{g\in G}x_ gg\in KG\), put \(x^ f=\sum_{g\in G}x_ gf(g)g^{-1}\). The ring \(KG\) is said to be \(f\)-normal if \(xx^ f=x^ fx\) for all \(x\in KG\). The following is the main result of this paper. Theorem. Assume that \(G\) is nonabelian and let \(\text{char\,}K\) denote the characteristic of \(K\). Then the group ring \(KG\) is \(f\)-normal if and only if one of the following conditions hold: (i) \(\text{char\,}K\neq 2\), \(G\) is a semidirect product of an abelian subgroup \(H\) and the cyclic subgroup \(\langle b\rangle\) of order 2, \(bhb^{-1}=h^{-1}\) for all \(h\in H\), \(\text{Ker\,}f=H\) and \(f(b)=-1\). (ii) \(\text{char\,}K=2\), \(G\) is a semidirect product of an abelian subgroup \(H\) and a subgroup \(\langle b\rangle\) of order 2, \(bhb^{-1}=h^{-1}\) for all \(h\in H\), \(\text{Ker\,}f=G\). (iii) \(G\) is a Hamiltonian 2-group and \(\text{Ker\,}f=G\). (iv) \(\text{char\,}K\neq 2\), \(G\) is a central product of a cyclic group \(\langle c\rangle\) of order 4 and a Hamiltonian 2-group \(\Gamma\) amalgamating \(\langle c^ 2\rangle\); \(\langle c^ 2\rangle\) coincides with \(\Gamma'\); \(\text{Ker\,}f=\Gamma\) and \(f(c)=-1\). (v) \(\text{char\,}K=2\), \(G\) is a direct product of an extra-special 2-group \(E\) and a group \(T\) of exponent \(n\leq 2\). (vi) \(\text{char\,}K=2\), \(G\) is a direct product of groups \(T\) and \(L\), where \(T\) is a group of exponent \(n\leq 2\), and \(L\) is a central product of an extra-special 2-group \(E\) and a cyclic group \(\langle c\rangle\) of order 4 amalgamating \(\langle c^ 2\rangle\), \(\langle c^ 2\rangle=E'\) and \(\text{Ker\,}f=G\).