Automorphisms of groups. (Q2370232)

Let \({\mathcal E}\colon N\rightarrowtail G\twoheadrightarrow Q\) be a group extension with coupling \(\chi\colon Q\to\text{Out\,}N\). If \(\Aut\,{\mathcal E}=\{\gamma\in\Aut\,G\mid N^\gamma=N\}\), \(\text{Comp}(\chi)\) the group of all compatible pairs for \(\chi\) and \(A\) the center of \(N\) regarded as a \(Q\)-module via \(\chi\) then it is known [\textit{Ch. Wells}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 155, 189-194 (1971; Zbl 0221.20054), \textit{D. J. S. Robinson}, Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 71, 46-80 (1982; Zbl 0496.20038)] that there is an exact sequence \[ 0\to\text{Der}(Q,A)\to\Aut\,{\mathcal E}\to\text{Comp}(\chi)@>\Lambda>>H^2(Q,A), \] where the Wells map \(\Lambda\) is not a homomorphism although the kernel of \(\Lambda\) has its usual meaning. The main purpose of the paper is to give an explicit description of the Wells map to the case of automorphisms acting trivially on the quotient group. It is shown: Theorem. Let \(N\rightarrowtail G\twoheadrightarrow Q\) be a group extension with coupling \(\chi\) and let \(A\) be the center of \(N\) regarded as a \(Q\)-module via \(\chi\). Then there exists an exact sequence: \[ 0\to\text{Der}(Q,A)\to C_{\Aut\,G}(Q)\to C_{\Aut\,N}(Q^\chi)@>\omega>>H^2(Q,A), \] where \(\omega\) is a derivation, with respect to the natural action of \(C_{\Aut\,N}(Q^\chi)\) on \(H^2(Q,A)\). Here \(\omega\) is the restriction of the Wells map to the case of automorphisms acting trivially on \(Q\). The author uses this theorem to obtain some new necessary and sufficient conditions for an automorphism of a normal subgroup of a group to extend to the group itself, with trivial action on the quotient group. In particular it is shown: Theorem. Let \(N\rightarrowtail G\twoheadrightarrow Q=G/N\) be a group extension with coupling \(\chi\), and \(G\) finite. Let \(S\) be an automorphism group of \(N\) and suppose that (a) \(S\subseteq C_{\Aut\,N}(Q^\chi )\), (b) \(S\) centralizes \(Z(N)\), and (c) \((|S|,|Z(N)|)=1\). Then there exists a unique automorphism group \(\widehat S\) of \(G\) such that \(\widehat S|_N=S\), \([G,\widehat S]\subseteq N\) and \(|\widehat S|=|S|\). In particular, \(\widehat S\) is isomorphic to \(S\).