Connected components of the category of elementary Abelian \(p\)-subgroups. (Q2378603)

The goal of the paper under review is to compute an upper bound for \(n_G\), where \(G\) is a finite \(p\)-group, \(p\) an odd prime. Here \(n_G\) is defined as the number of connected components of the category of elementary Abelian subgroups of \(G\) of rank at least 2, and equals the torsion-free rank of the group of endotrivial modules of \(G\). Computing this upper bound is equivalent to determining the maximal number of conjugacy classes of maximal elementary Abelian subgroups of rank 2. It is proved that \(p+1\) is an upper bound when \(G\) has rank 2, while the bound can be lowered to \(p\) if \(G\) has rank at least 3. A key ingredient is \textit{L.~Héthelyi}'s theory of soft subgroups [see, e.g., J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 41, No.~3, 425-437 (1990; Zbl 0669.20010)]. Also, \(n_G\) is computed for \(p\)-groups of rank 2, according to the classification of \textit{N.~Blackburn} [Acta Math. 100, 45-92 (1958; Zbl 0083.24802)].