\(p\)-adic completions and automorphisms of nilpotent groups. (Q2569876)

The authors of the paper under review have shown [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 149, No. 3, 251-266 (2000; Zbl 0968.20020)] that every group \(G\) can be realized as the outer automorphism group \(\Aut(H)/\text{Inn}(H)\) of some torsion-free metabelian group \(H\). Similar results were obtained by \textit{M.~Dugas} and \textit{R.~Göbel} [Arch. Math. 54, No. 4, 340-351 (1990; Zbl 0703.20033), Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 332, No. 2, 633-646 (1992; Zbl 0773.20007)], realizing an arbitrary group \(G\) in the form \(\Aut(H)/\text{Stab}(H)\), for some torsion-free nilpotent group of class \(2\). Here \(\text{Stab}(H)\) is the group of those automorphisms of \(H\) that induce the identity on the centre \(Z(H)\) of \(H\) and on the quotient group \(H/Z(H)\). In the paper under review the following result is proved, which helps to shed light on the previous constructions. Let \(G\) be an arbitrary group. Let \(N\) be a free nilpotent group of class two, and \(\widehat N\) its \(p\)-adic completion. Then there is a group \(H\), such that \(N<H<\widehat N\) and \(\Aut(H)/\text{Stab}(H)\) is isomorphic to \(G\).