On Bol loops. (Q1889654)

A binary system \((S,.)\) is a symmetric space if: \(\forall x,y,z\in S\): 1) \(x.x=x\), 2) \(x.(x.y)=y\), 3) \(x.(y.z)=(x.y).(x.z)\). It is known that if \(S\) is a Bol loop and we define \(x.y:=(xy^{-1})x\) then \((S,.)\) is a symmetric space. The purpose of this note is to present a construction of Bol (or Moufang) loops obtained starting from a particular class of groups, by means of symmetric spaces. Such a construction proceeds as follows: Let \(G\) be a group admitting an involutorial automorphism \(\sigma\), let \(I_\sigma:=\{g\in G\mid\sigma(g)=g\}\), \(N:=\langle I_\sigma\rangle\), \(\varphi\colon N\to G\) be a group homomorphism. If we assume that \(\varphi\) satisfies three suitable properties (see \S2) then the group \(G\) is said to have the \((\sigma,\varphi)\)-property. The author proves that: ``If the group \(G\) has the \((\sigma,\varphi)\)-property and if \(S\) is a symmetric space isomorphic to \(\varphi(G_\sigma)\) then \(S\) can be equipped with the structure of Bol loop (or of Moufang loop provided that \(\varphi\) is an isomorphism)''. Conversely, if \(S\) is a Bol loop then there exists a suitable \((\sigma,\varphi)\)-group \(G\) from which \(S\) can be derived from the previous construction. This correspondence stated between Bol loops and \((\sigma,\varphi)\)-groups allows the author to find some criteria for simplicity and finiteness of such loops exposed in the note.