On the Kegel-Wielandt \(\sigma \)-problem (Q2037699)

Let \(\sigma\) be a partition of the prime numbers in pairwise disjoint sets \(\sigma_i\), \(i = 1,\ldots ,m\). Let \(G\) be a finite group and \(H \leq G\). Then \(H\) is called \(\sigma\)-subnormal in \(G\) if there is a chain of subgroups \(H = H_0 \leq H_1 \leq \dots \leq H_n = G\) such that for each \(i\) either \(H_{i-1}\) is normal in \(H_i\) or \(H_i/\mathrm{Core}_{H_i}(H_{i-1})\) is a \(\sigma_j\)-group for some \(\sigma_j\) in the partition \(\sigma\). Assume that \(G\) possesses Hall \(\sigma_i\)-subgroups for all \(\sigma_i \in \sigma\). The Kegel-Wielandt \(\sigma\)-problem now asks the following question: If for a subgroup \(H\) of \(G\) \(S_i \cap H\) is a Hall \(\sigma_i\)-subgroup for each Hall \(\sigma_i\)-subgroup \(S_i\) of \(G\), is then \(H\) \(\sigma\)-subnormal in \(G\). A more general question is the following. Let \(\Sigma = \{S_i, \ldots ,S_m\}\) be a fixed set of Hall \(\sigma_i\)-subgroups \(S_i\) of \(G\) and \(H\) a subgroup of \(G\). Then \(\Sigma\) is called reduced to \(H\) if \(S_i \cap H\) is a Hall \(\sigma_i\)-subgroup of \(H\) for all \(i\). Assume we have a set \(\Sigma\) of Hall \(\sigma_i\)-subgroups and a subgroup \(H\) of \(G\) such that \(\Sigma^g\) is reduced to \(H\) for all \(g \in G\). Does this imply that \(H\) is \(\sigma\)-subnormal in \(G\). The main result of the paper under review says that this is true if all the non-abelian composition factors of \(G\) are alternating groups, Suzuki groups or Ree groups. By quoting several known results the proof is reduced to the case that a counterexample \(G\) is a Ree group and then that \(H\) is either \(\mathrm{PSL}_2(q)\) or \({}^2G_2(q)\). Using the subgroup structure of theses groups it is easy to see that there is no \(\Sigma\) such that \(\Sigma^g\) is reduced to \(H\). A complete answer to the Kegel-Wielandt \(\sigma\)-problem is still far away.