Characterization of non-compact locally compact groups by cocompact subgroups (Q2285736)

The main results of this note generalize some contributions appeared originally in [\textit{F. G. Russo}, Adv. Pure Appl. Math. 1, No. 2, 285--291 (2010; Zbl 1225.22006); \textit{P.-E. Caprace} and \textit{N. Monod}, Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 150, No. 1, 97--128 (2011; Zbl 1218.22002)], but also in [\textit{D. E. Otera} and \textit{F. G. Russo}, Beitr. Algebra Geom. 52, No. 1, 75--81 (2011; Zbl 1223.22004); \textit{F. Russo}, J. Lie Theory 17, No. 3, 625--632 (2007; Zbl 1136.22004); \textit{K. H. Hofmann} and \textit{S. A. Morris}, Topol. Proc. 33, 225--237 (2009; Zbl 1221.22001)]. The logic of investigation moves around the theory of the just infinite groups, which has seen some important developments in the past ten years. More specifically, a closed subgroup \(B\) of a topological (Hausdorff) group \(A\) is \(cocompact\), if the quotient space \(A/B\) is compact. The group \(G\) is a \(CQ\)-group, if every non-trivial closed subgroup of \(G\) is cocompact. Just-Non-Compact groups, that is, topological groups all whose proper quotients (through closed normal subgroups) are compact, motivate the notion of \(CQ\)-group and so its study. Theorem A shows that a non-compact locally compact \(CQ\)-group is isomorphic either to the additive group of the integers \(\mathbb{Z}\) or to the additive group of the reals \(\mathbb{R}\). Theorem B detects among non-compact locally compact groups those which are either isomorphic to \(\mathbb{Z}\) or almost connected. Open problems are presented such as the characterization of non-compact locally compact groups with the property that every proper discrete subgroup is cocompact (see Question 4.7).