Characteristic pairs for 2-groups (Q1080945)

Let p be a prime, let S be a finite p-group, and let G be a finite group. The pair \((S,G)\) satisfies condition \(({\mathcal C}_ p)\) if: S is a Sylow p-subgroup of G, \(C_ G(O_ p(G))\leq O_ P(G)\), G has a normal subgroup K such that \(G/K\cong SL_ 2(p^ m)\) for some m and S is contained in a unique maximal subgroup of G. A basic result for such pairs (S,G) was obtained by Glauberman and Niles. Also Campbell proved an important variation of the Glauberman-Niles theorem for \(p=2\). These results played an important role in Aschbacher's work on classifying finite simple groups of characteristic 2 type. To state the main results of this paper, we require some definitions: Let S denote an arbitrary finite 2-group. Let \({\mathcal C}_ 2(S)\) denote the collection of all finite groups G such that the pair \((S,G)\) satisfies \(({\mathcal C}_ 2)\) and let \(K(S)=C_ S(\Omega_ 1(Z(J(S)))\) where J(S) is the Thompson subgroup of S generated by the set of all elementary abelian subgroups of S of maximal order. Also let \({\mathcal D}(S)\) denote the collection of all finite groups G such that: (G1) S is a Sylow 2- subgroup of G, (G2) \(C_ G(O_ 2(G))\leq O_ 2(G)\), (G3) \(G=G/C_ G(\Omega_ 1(Z(O_ 2(G)))\cong SL_ 2(2^ m)\) for some m, (G4) when \(V=\Omega_ 1(Z(O_ 2(G)))\) is regarded as a \(GF(2)[\bar G]\)-module, then \([V,G]/C_{[V,\bar G]}(\bar G)\) is the natural \(GF(2)[SL_ 2(2^ m)]\)-module, (G5) \(O_ 2(G)<C_ G(V)\), (G6) \([O_ 2(G),O^ 2(G)]\nleq V\), (G7) S is contained in a unique maximal subgroup of G and (G8) \(G=<K(S)^ G>\). Also let \({\mathcal D}'(S)\) denote the collection of all finite groups G that satisfy (G1)-(G5), (G7) and (G'6) \([O_ 2(G),O^ 2(G)]\leq V\) and (G'8) \(J(S)\nleq C_ G(V)\). Note that if \(G\in {\mathcal D}'(S)\), then G has a unique noncentral chief factor in \(O_ 2(G)\), it lies in V and is the natural module for \(G/C_ G(V)\cong SL_ 2(2^ m)\). A characteristic pair for S is a pair \((S_ 1,S_ 2)\) of characteristic subgroups of S such that \(G\in {\mathcal D}(S)\) implies \(S_ 1\) or \(S_ 2\) is normal in G. A characteristic pair \((S_ 1,S_ 2)\) is of Glauberman-Niles type if \(S_ 1\neq 1\), \(S_ 2\neq 1\) and \(S_ 1\leq \Omega_ 1(Z(S)).\) The two main results of this paper are: Theorem A. Let S be a finite 2- group, let \(T=K(S)\) and let \((T_ 1,T_ 2)\) be a characteristic pair for T such that \(T_ 1\leq \Omega_ 1(Z(T))\). Then for each \(G\in {\mathcal C}_ 2(S)\) we have: (A1) \(T_ 1\cap \Omega_ 1(Z(S))\leq Z(G)\) or (A2) \(T_ 2\trianglelefteq G\) or (A3) \(G\in {\mathcal D}'(S)\). - Theorem B. Let S be a finite 2-group and let \(G_ i\in {\mathcal D}(S)\) for \(i=1,2\). Then \(O_ 2(G_ 1)\cap O_ 2(G_ 2)\) is normal in both \(G_ 1\) and \(G_ 2.\) For each finite 2-group S, set \({\mathcal Q}(S)=\{O_ 2(G)|\) \(G\in {\mathcal D}(S)\}\), \(Q(S)=\cap_{Q\in {\mathcal Q}(S)}Q\) if \({\mathcal D}(S)\neq \emptyset\) and \(Q(S)=S\) if \({\mathcal D}(S)=\emptyset\). Clearly Z(S)\(\leq Q(S)\); so Q(S)\(\neq 1\) if \(S\neq 1\). Moreover Q(S) char S. Theorems A and B readily yield: Theorem C. Let S be a nonidentity 2-group. Then (1) Q(S)\(\trianglelefteq G\) for all \(G\in {\mathcal D}(S)\) and (2) \(\Omega_ 1(Z(S))\) and Q(S) form a characteristic pair of Glauberman-Niles type for S. - And a generalization of Campbell's theorem: Theorem D. Let S be a finite 2-group and let \(G\in {\mathcal C}_ 2(S)\). Then (1) \(\Omega_ 1(Z(S))\leq Z(G)\) or (2) \(Q(K(S))\trianglelefteq G\) or (3) \(G\in {\mathcal D}(S).\) Utilizing previous work of the author, the above results also yield various generalizations of Aschbacher's C(G,T)-theorem and of a 2-fusion theorem of McBride. One such result is Theorem H of this paper. The proofs of Theorems A and B imitate the methods of the author [J. Fac. Sci., Univ. Tokyo, Sect. I A 23, 465-489 (1976; Zbl 0389.20013)].