2-groups of breadth 3. (Q2468529)

Let \(G\) be a \(2\)-group and let \(2^{b(G)}=\max\{|G:C_G(x)|\mid x\in G\}\). The number \(b(G)\) is said to be the `breadth' of \(G\). According to Knoche, \(|G'|=p\) if and only if \(b(G)=1\). The following result is proved by \textit{G. Parmeggiani} and \textit{B. Stellmacher}, [J. Algebra 213, No. 1, 52-68 (1999; Zbl 0921.20018)]: A \(p\)-group \(G\) is of breadth \(2\) if and only if one of the following holds: (a) \(|G'|=p^2\), (b) \(|G'|=p^3=|G:Z(G)|\). Clearly, if \(|G|=p^k\) or \(|G:Z(G)|=p^{k+1}\), then \(b(G)\leq k\). In the cited paper some essential results on \(p\)-groups of breadth \(3\) were obtained, and these groups were divided into four families. In the paper under review the following theorem is proved. Theorem. Let \(G\) be a finite \(2\)-group of breadth \(3\). Then one of the following holds: (a) \(|G'|=2^3\). (b) \(|G:Z(G)|=2^4\). (c) \(|G'|=2^4\), and there is \(R\leq\Omega_1(Z(G))\) of order \(2\) such that \(|(G/R):Z(G/R)|\leq 2^3\). (d) \(|G'|=2^4\) and \(G=U*C_G(U)\), a central product, where \(C_G(U)\) is Abelian and \(U\) is one of five groups whose generators and defining relations are presented. All the above groups are of breadth \(\leq 3\). The proof of this deep result is long and involved. It is surprising that the above cited paper is the only reference cited in the paper.