On the isomorphism problem for infinite group rings (Q1908011)

The author studies the properties of a certain semi-direct product associated to a group \(G\) and an automorphism \(\phi\) of \(G\): \(G\rtimes_\phi\mathbb{Z}\) with \((g,z)\cdot(h,z')=(g\cdot{^{\phi^*}}h,z+z')\). An important property of these groups is that \(G\rtimes_\phi\mathbb{Z}\simeq G\rtimes_\psi\mathbb{Z}\) if and only if \(\phi\cdot\psi^{-1}\) is an inner automorphism of \(G\). A corresponding result for group rings is the following Theorem 1. Let \(G\) be a finite group and \(R\) an integral domain of characteristic zero such that no prime divisor of \(|G|\) is invertible. Then \(R(G\times\mathbb{Z})\simeq RW\) if and only if \(W=H\rtimes_\phi\mathbb{Z}\), where \(H\leq W\) is finite such that \(RG\simeq RH\) and \(\phi\in\text{Aut}(H)\) is inner in \(RH\). \textit{A. Zimmermann} and the reviewer [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 103, No. 1, 91-99 (1995; Zbl 0835.16020)] had constructed a ring of algebraic integers \(R\), a finite group \(G\) and an automorphism \(\phi\) of \(G\) such that \(\phi\) is not inner on \(G\) but \(\phi\) becomes inner in \(RG\). This example serves two purposes: It shows, that the natural map \(\text{Out}(G)\to\text{Out}(RG)\), which is injective for groups of odd order, need not be injective [cf. \textit{S. Jackowski} and \textit{Z. Marciniak}, ibid. 44, 241-250 (1987; Zbl 0624.20024)]. Together with the above theorem it provides an example of two non-isomorphic polycyclic groups \(W_i\) with \(RW_1\simeq RW_2\) for \(R\) the ring of integers in a certain algebraic number field [loc. cit. and \textit{A. Zimmermann} and the reviewer, loc. cit.] The author then gives some applications of this result. He concludes with posing some interesting problems: One of them should be formulated as follows: Given a semilocal automorphism \(\mathbb{Z}_\pi G\simeq\mathbb{Z}_\pi H\), such that the order of no torsion elements in \(G\) is a unit in \(\mathbb{Z}_\pi\), does this imply that there is an isomorphism of the integral group rings \(\mathbb{Z} G\simeq\mathbb{Z} H\)?