On profinite groups with Engel-like conditions. (Q2259155)

The main result of the paper under review states that if \(G\) is a profinite group in which for every \(x\in G\) there is an integer \(q>0\) such that \(x^q\) is Engel, then \(G\) is locally virtually nilpotent, that is, each finitely generated subgroup of \(G\) has an open subgroup which is nilpotent. Recall that \(y\in G\) is said to be Engel if for every \(z\in G\) there is an integer \(n\) such that the repeated commutator \([z,{_ny}]=[z,\underbrace{y,\ldots,y}_n]\) is trivial. A group is said to be Engel if all of its elements are Engel. This result generalises two other results that build on Zelmanov's positive solution of the Restricted Burnside Problem [\textit{E. I. Zel'manov}, Math. USSR, Izv. 36, No. 1, 41-60 (1991); translation from Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Mat. 54, No. 1, 42-59 (1990; Zbl 0704.20030); Mat. Sb. 182, No. 4, 568-592 (1991; Zbl 0752.20017)], namely Zelmanov's proof of the local finiteness of profinite periodic groups [Isr. J. Math. 77, No. 1-2, 83-95 (1992; Zbl 0786.22008)], and the proof by \textit{J. S. Wilson} and \textit{E. I. Zelmanov} of the local nilpotence of profinite Engel groups [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 81, No. 1, 103-109 (1992; Zbl 0851.17007)]. It is also shown that if \(p\) is a prime, \(k>0\) an integer, and \(G\) a finitely generated profinite group in which for every repeated commutator \([x_1,\ldots,x_k]\) there is a power \(q\) of \(p\) such that \(x^q\) is Engel, then \(\gamma_k(G)\) is locally virtually nilpotent. Here \(\gamma_k(G)\), the \(k\)-th term of the lower central series, is the closed subgroup of \(G\) generated by all \([x_1,\ldots,x_k]\). We refer to the original paper for further interesting details, in particular about the latter result.