On \(A\)-nilpotent abelian groups. (Q2018804)

Let \(G\) be a group, let \(A=\Aut(G)\) and consider the descending series \(G,K_1(G),K_2(G),\dots,K_m(G),\ldots\), where \(K_m(G)=[K_{m-1}(G), A]\). Whenever \(K_m=1\) for some positive integer \(m\), the authors call \(G\) an \(A\)-nilpotent group. It is clear that if \(G\) is \(A\)-nilpotent, then \(A\) is nilpotent, being the stability group of the above series and therefore \(G\) itself must be nilpotent. The converse is easily shown to be false and the authors' main result is Theorem 4.5: A nontrivial abelian group \(G\) is \(A\)-nilpotent if and only if \(G\) is a direct sum of a finite number of finite 2-groups of distinct orders. A direct consequence of this is the fact that infinite abelian groups are not \(A\)-nilpotent.