Embeddings of finite groups in \(B_n/\Gamma_k(P_n)\) for \(k=2,3\) (Q2027756)

Let \(B_n\) denote the (Artin) braid group on \(n\) strings and let \(\sigma : B_n \to S_n\) denote the surjective homomorphism onto the symmetric group \(S_n\). The pure braid group \(P_n\) on \(n\) strings is defined to be the extension \(1\to P_n\to B_n\stackrel{\sigma}{\to}S_n\to 1\). Given a group \(G\), write \(G=\Gamma(_1(G)\ge \Gamma_2(G)\ge\cdots\) for lower central series of \(G\) and consider extensions \(1\to P_n/\Gamma_k(P_n)\to B_n/\Gamma_k(P_n)\stackrel{\bar{\sigma}}{\to} S_n\to 1\). It follows from results of [\textit{M. Falk} and \textit{R. Randell}, Invent. Math. 82, 77--88 (1985; Zbl 0574.55010); \textit{T. Kohno}, Invent. Math. 82, 57--75 (1985; Zbl 0574.55009)] that \(P_n/\Gamma_k(P_n)\) is torsion free. The quotient groups of the form \(B_n/\Gamma_k(P_n)\) have been the focus of several recent papers. The authors showed in [J. Algebra 474, 393--423 (2017; Zbl 1367.20034)] that \(B_n/\Gamma_2(P_n)\) is a crystallographic group, and that up to isomorphism, its finite abelian subgroups are the abelian subgroups of \(S_n\) of odd order. Almost nothing is known about the torsion and the finite subgroups of \(B_n/\Gamma_k(P_n)\) in the case where \(k>3\). \par The main aim of this paper is to study the embedding of finite groups \(G\) in the two quotients \(B_n/\Gamma_k(P_n)\), where \(k\in \{2, 3\}\). If such an embedding exists, it is known that \(\mbox{gcd}(|G|,k!) =1\) for the order \(|G|\) of \(G\). The authors show that if \(G\) is a finite group for which \(\mbox{gcd}(|G|,k!) = 1\) then \(G\) embeds into \(B_{|G|}/\Gamma_k(P_{|G|})\). If \(k = 2\), the result was proved by \textit{V. Beck} and \textit{I. Marin} [J. Algebra 558, 3--23 (2020; Zbl 1481.20130)]. If \(G = \mathbb{Z}_{p^r}\rtimes_\theta \mathbb{Z}_d\), where the action \(\theta\) is injective, \(p\) is an odd prime, \(p > 5\) if \(k = 3\), and \(d\) divides \(p-1\) and satisfies \(\mbox{gcd}(d,k!) = 1\), the authors show that \(G\) embeds into \(B_{p^r} /\Gamma_k(P_{p^r})\). If \(k = 2\), this is a special case of another result by Beck and Marin [loc. cit.]. Furthermore, an explicit embeddings in \(B_9/\Gamma_2(P_9)\) of the two non-abelian groups of order \(27\) is constructed.