Virtual endomorphisms of nilpotent groups. (Q2372587)

Let \(G\) be any group. A `virtual endomorphism' of \(G\) is a homomorphism \(f\colon H\to G\) where \(H\) is a subgroup of finite index of \(G\). The maximal \(G\)-invariant and \(f\)-invariant subgroup of \(H\) is said to be the `\(f\)-core' of \(f\). If the latter subgroup is trivial, \(f\) is called `simple'. In particular, if \(\{1\}\) is the only \(f\)-invariant subgroup of \(H\), then \(f\) is said to be `strongly simple'. We note that from a virtual endomorphism \(f\colon H\to G\), by using the transitive representation of \(G\) on the set of the right cosets of \(H\) and a recursive construction, it is possible to obtain a `state-closed' representation of \(G\) on a rooted regular \(|G:H|\)-ary tree whose kernel is the `\(f\)-core' [see \textit{S. Sidki}, J. Math. Sci., New York 100, No. 1, 1925-1943 (2000; Zbl 1069.20504)]. In the article under review the authors extend the results obtained by \textit{V. Nekrashevych} and \textit{S. Sidki} [Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 311, 375-404 (2004; Zbl 1144.20305)] on free Abelian state closed groups to finitely generated torsion free nilpotent groups. The main theorems obtained are the following: Theorem 1. Let \(G\) be a nilpotent group and \(f\colon H\to G\) a virtual endomorphism of \(G\). Then \(\ker(f)\) is contained in the isolator in \(H\) of the \(f\)-core. Recall that the `isolator' of a subgroup \(L\) in a group \(H\) is the set \(I_H(L)=\{x\in H\mid x^n\in L\) for some positive integer \(n\}\). In particular, if \(H\) is nilpotent, then (P. Hall) \(I_H(L)\) is a subgroup. Theorem 2. Let \(G\) be a finitely generated torsion free group such that \(G'\leq Z(G)\), and let \(H\) be a subgroup of finite index of \(G\). Then, there exists a subgroup \(K\) of finite index in \(H\) admitting a strongly simple epimorphism \(f\colon K\to G\). Let \(m\) be an integer \(>1\). Denote by \(l(m)\) the number of prime divisors of \(m\) (counting multiplicities). Theorem 3. Let \(G\) be a finitely generated torsion free nilpotent group. If \(H\) is a subgroup of \(G\) of index \(m\) and \(f\colon H\to G\) is a simple endomorphism, then the derived length of \(G\) is at most \(l(m)\). Moreover, if \(f\) is strongly simple, then the nilpotency class of \(G\) is at most \(l(m)\). Theorem 4. Let \(G\) be a finitely generated torsion free nilpotent group. If \(H\) is a subgroup of \(G\) of square free index and \(f\colon H\to G\) is a simple endomorphism, then \(G\) is Abelian.