Baer's extension equivalence. (Q1409612)

In this paper, dedicated to the memory of Reinhold Baer, the authors revisit \textit{R. Baer}'s paper ``Extension types of Abelian groups'' [Am. J. Math 71, 461-490 (1949; Zbl 0034.30102)]. The authors find it ``remarkable to what extent Baer had already laid the foundation conceptually'' for their later work on equivalence theorems. Two subgroups \(H\) and \(H'\) of a group are `equivalent' if there is an automorphism \(\alpha\) of \(G\) such that \(\alpha(H)=H'\). Two extensions \(G\) and \(G'\) of a common subgroup \(H\) are `equivalent' if there is an isomorphism \(G\to G'\) that restricts to the identity map on \(H\). In contrast to Baer the authors use ``local extension of maps'' which means that for \(H\leq K\leq G\) under suitable conditions a homomorphism \(H\to G'\) can be extended to a homomorphism \(K\to G'\). While Baer studied what the authors term ``small extensions'', they generalize to ``slim'' extensions. An extension \(G\) of \(H\) is `slim' if \(G/H\) is torsion and for every prime \(p\) with \((G/H)_p\neq 0\), the \(p\)-primary component \(G_p\) of \(G\) is a direct sum of a bounded and a divisible group. Theorem~3. Suppose that \(G\) is a slim extension of its subgroup \(H\), \(H\leq K\leq G\), \(K/H\) is finitely generated, and \(\phi\colon H\to G'\) is a homomorphism that does not decrease heights computed in \(G\) and \(G'\), respectively. Then \(\phi\) can be extended to a homomorphism \(K\to G'\) that does not decrease heights. Corollary~2. Suppose that \(G\) and \(G'\) are slim extensions of a common subgroup \(H\). Then there exists a homomorphism \(G\to G'\) that restricts to the identity on \(H\) if and only if \(H\cap p^nG\subseteq H\cap p^nG'\) for each prime and positive integer \(n\). Corollary~3. A pure subgroup of a slim extension is a direct summand. These are generalizations of results of Baer with new proofs. Baer defined \(p\)-Loewy chains of a subgroup \(H\) of \(G\) which the authors reinterpret as invariants \(B_\alpha(G,H)_p\) related to the relative Ulm invariants \(U_\alpha(G,H)_p\). Further theorems deal with equivalence of extensions. Theorem~10. Two slim extensions \(G\) and \(G'\) of \(H\) are equivalent if and only if \(H\cap p^nG=H\cap p^nG'\) for all prime powers \(p^n\) and \(U_n(G,H)_p=U_n(G',H')_p\). Following Baer an extension \(G\) of \(H\) is `minimal' if \(G=G_1\oplus G_2\) with \(H\subseteq G_1\) implies that \(G_2=0\). Theorem~11. If \(G\) is a slim extension of \(H\), then there exist a direct decomposition \(G=G_1\oplus G_2\) such that \(G_1\) is a minimal extension of \(H\). In a last sections ``types'' of extensions are considered. Comment: The ``Baer invariant'' \(B_\alpha(G,H)_p\) was rediscovered by \textit{K. Benabdallah} and \textit{T. Oku\-ya\-ma} [Commun. Algebra 19, No. 1, 85-96 (1991; Zbl 0716.20036)], in connection with purification of subgroups of \(p\)-groups. It is the dimension of their ``overhang'' \(V_n(G,H)\). Subsequently the overhang has been used extensively in a number of papers, e.g. \textit{K. Benabdallah, B. Charles, A. Mader} [Can. J. Math. 43, No. 1, 3-18 (1991; Zbl 0729.20021)], \textit{T. Okuyama} [Pac. J. Math. 157, No. 2, 311-324 (1993; Zbl 0798.20051); Commun. Algebra 25, No. 3, 673-681 (1997; Zbl 0952.20045); Hokkaido Math. J. 30, No. 1, 177-194 (2001; Zbl 0984.20033)].