Finite \(p\)-groups with non-cyclic center have a non-inner automorphism of order \(p\) (Q2041992)

Let \(p\) be a prime number and let \(G\) be a finite non-abelian \(p\)-group. Problem 4.13 from [\textit{V. D. Mazurov} (ed.) and \textit{E. I. Khukhro} (ed.), The Kourovka notebook. Unsolved problems in group theory. Novosibirsk: Institute of Mathematics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Div. (2014; Zbl 1372.20001)], due to Berkovich, asks whether \(G\) has a non-inner automorphism of order \(p\). The answer is proven to be positive for various families of \(p\)-groups. Moreover, there is evidence that \(\mathrm{Z}(G)\) being cyclic might be an obstruction to Problem 4.13 having a positive solution in some cases. Denote by \(\mathrm{Z}_2(G)\) the second center of \(G\) and set \[ W(G)=\{x\in \mathrm{Z}_2(G) : x^p \in \mathrm{Z}(G)\}. \] The authors prove that, if \(W(G)\) is non-abelian and \(\mathrm{Z}(G)\) is non-cyclic, then \(G\) has a non-inner automorphism of order \(p\). They also produce an explicit example showing that their result is not included in the analysis of the earlier [\textit{A. Abdollahi} et al., Beitr. Algebra Geom. 54, No. 1, 363--381 (2013; Zbl 1269.20021)].