Group extensions and automorphism group rings. (Q1397808)

The authors study the semisimple quotient of the group ring \(\mathbb{F}_p\Aut(P)\) of a finite \(p\)-group \(P\) by an inductive approach via group extensions. Given an extension \(E\colon N\to P\to Q\) of finite groups their results involve relations between \(\Aut(N)\), \(\Aut(P)\), \(\Aut(Q)\) and the extension class \([E]\in H^2(Q,ZN)\) where \(ZN\) is the center of \(N\). They use the exact sequence relating the automorphism groups of \(N\) and \(Q\) with that of \(P\) depending on \([E]\in H^2(Q,ZN)\) which was obtained by \textit{C. Wells} [in Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 155, 189-194 (1971; Zbl 0221.20054)] and \textit{J. Buckley} [in J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 12, 37-44 (1975; Zbl 0358.20035)]. Moreover they introduce the intersection orbit group \(\Omega([E])\) defined as the intersection of the orbits \(\Aut(N)\cdot[E]\) and \(\Aut(Q)\cdot[E]\) in \(H^2(Q,ZN)\). This group is useful in computing \(|\Aut(P)|\). In case \(N\), \(Q\) are elementary Abelian 2-groups their results involve the theory of quadratic forms and the Arf invariant.