On Lie solvable restricted enveloping algebras. (Q2382983)

Let \(u(L)\) be the restricted enveloping algebra of a restricted Lie algebra \(L\) over a field of positive characteristic \(p\). As any associative algebra, \(u(L)\) can be viewed as a Lie algebra with the Lie product defined by \([x,y]:=xy-yx\). In [J. Algebra 162, No.1, 46-61 (1993; Zbl 0798.17011)], \textit{D. M. Riley} and \textit{A. Shalev} investigated the Lie structure of \(u(L)\) and, in particular, characterized when it is Lie solvable under the assumption that \(p>2\). In a later article [Arch. Math. 84, No. 5, 398-405 (2005; Zbl 1106.17012)], the author and the reviewer of the present paper characterized Lie metabelian restricted enveloping algebras. Furthermore, by \textit{S. Siciliano} [Publ. Math. 68, No. 3-4, 503-513 (2006; Zbl 1109.17003)] a lower bound for the Lie derived length, \(dl_L(u(L))\), of \(u(L)\) was established, namely \(\lceil\log_2(p+1)\rceil\leq dl_L(u(L))\). The purpose of the paper under review is to present some further contributions to the study of Lie derived length and strong Lie derived length of restricted universal enveloping algebras. The main results are the characterization of enveloping algebras with minimal strong Lie derived length (Theorem 2) and the classification of Lie centrally metabelian restricted enveloping algebras when \(p=3\) (Theorem 3). The latter problem in characteristic \(p>3\) was previously solved by \textit{D. M. Riley} and \textit{V. Tasić} [in J. Pure Appl. Algebra 122, No. 1-2, 127-134 (1997; Zbl 0885.16024)]. Finally, in Theorem 1 it is stated that, if \(dl_L(u(L))=\lceil\log_2(p+1)\rceil\), then \(L\) must be nilpotent. We stress that all the questions considered in the paper arise also in the theory of group algebras. In particular, group algebras with minimal strong Lie derived length were characterized by the reviewer [Can. Math. Bull. 51, No. 2, 291-297 (2008; Zbl 1197.16031)] and, independently, by \textit{Z. Balogh} and \textit{T. Juhász} [Commun. Algebra 36, No. 2, 315-324 (2008; Zbl 1142.16011)], whereas Lie centrally metabelian group algebras were classified by \textit{M. Sahai} and \textit{J. B. Srivastava} [J. Algebra 187, No. 1, 7-15 (1997; Zbl 0889.16013)] and \textit{R. K. Sharma} and \textit{J. B. Srivastava} [J. Algebra 151, No. 2, 476-486 (1992; Zbl 0788.16019)]. Actually also a characterization of group algebras with minimal Lie derived length is known [\textit{E. Spinelli}, J. Algebra 320, No. 5, 1908-1913 (2008; Zbl 1154.16016)]. It is interesting that there is no correspondence among Theorems 1-3 and the natural theoretic analogues of them in the ambit of group rings.