On locally finite \(\mathsf{Cpp}\)-groups (Q2630861)

A group \(G\) is called a CP-group if every element of \(G\) has prime power order. These have been extensively studied and classified in at least 12 papers by 9 authors spread over the years 1956 to 2006. Originally, this was for finite groups (for example, \textit{M. Suzuki} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 99, 425--470 (1961; Zbl 0101.01604)] proved that there are exactly eight finite simple CP-groups). Later, this was extended to locally soluble groups and to locally finite groups. Here, the authors tackle the analogous problem under the weaker assumption that for some prime \(p\) our group \(G\) contains nontrivial elements of order \(p\) and if the centralizer in \(G\) of every such element is a \(p\)-group. Such groups are called Cpp-groups. Obviously every nontrivial \(p\)-group is a Cpp-group, so the authors concern themselves with Cpp-groups that are not \(p\)-groups. The authors prove three theorems, each of which is far too long and complicated to quote here in full. Theorem A concerns periodic locally soluble Cpp-groups that are not \(p\)-groups. In particular such groups are always soluble with derived length bounded by a function of \(p\) and the least prime \(q\neq p\) involved in \(G\). The remaining theorems deal with locally finite Cpp-groups that are not locally soluble. Theorem B handles the case where \(p= 2\) and Theorem C handles the case where \(p\) is an odd prime. If \(G\) is a locally finite Cpp-group that is not a \(p\)-group these three theorems taken together yield that \(G\) modulo its Fitting subgroup is countable or finite. Also, the only infinite simple such groups are certain \(\text{PSL}(2,F)\) and, if \(p=2\), \(\text{Sz}(F)\). Not surprisingly, the above depend crucially on the properties of finite Cpp-groups. Thus, the authors start their proofs by summarizing with references the considerable amount already known about finite Cpp-groups.