On finite groups whose Cipolla rank is one (Q1287005)

Let \(G\) denote a finite non-Abelian group with center \(Z\). \(G\) is said to have rank 1 (or Cipolla rank 1) if in the poset of centralizers of elements in \(G\setminus Z\) all elements are maximal. A particular case of such groups, the so-called \(\mathcal M\)-groups (those finite non-Abelian groups in which the centralizers of non-central elements are Abelian) was considered by \textit{R. Schmidt} [Rend. Semin. Mat. Univ. Padova 44, 97-131 (1970; Zbl 0243.20039)]. The paper under review tackles the problem of finding the structure of those rank 1 groups which are not \(\mathcal M\)-groups. By using a battery of known results on partitions, the author manages to reduce the problem to the description of the \(p\)-groups of rank 1 which are not \(\mathcal M\)-groups. Here is the main result: Theorem. \(G\) is a group of rank 1 but not an \(\mathcal M\)-group if and only if one of the following two sets of conditions are satisfied: a) \(G=P\times K\), with \(P\) a \(p\)-group of rank 1 which is not an \(\mathcal M\)-group and \(K\) an Abelian \(p'\)-group. b) \(G/Z\) is a Frobenius group with kernel \(N/Z\), with \(Z(N)=Z\), with \(N\) verifying condition a) and with cyclic complement \(F/Z\).