On abelian groups by which balanced extensions of a rational group split (Q1196776)

Let \(R\) be a fixed torsion-free abelian group of rank one and type \(t\). A torsion-free abelian group \(A\) is called an \(R\)-group if any balanced extension of \(R\) by \(A\) splits. The \(R\)-groups \(A\) whose non-zero elements have types \(\leq t\) are considered here. Let \(A'\) denote the localization of \(A\) at the collection of primes \(p\) for which \(pR \neq R\). \(A\) is an \(R\)-group exactly when \(A'\) is. An interesting connection to Butler groups is established by the following theorem: If \(A'\) is a \(B_ 2\)-group, then \(A\) is always an \(R\)-group. The converse holds if \(A\) is, in addition, a countable group. When \(A\) has arbitrary cardinality, the converse is shown to hold in the constructible universe \(L\). The techniques used here are similar to those employed in the study of infinite rank Butler groups and bring out the complexity of \(R\)-groups.