Flatness Conditions on Finite<b><i>p</i></b>-Groups (Q3158205)

A group \(G\) is said to be flat if every conjugacy class of \(G\) is a coset of some subgroup. Equivalently, for every \(x\in G\) the set \([x,G]=\{[x,y]:y\in G\}\) is a subgroup, and thus a normal one. Here \([x,y]=x^{-1}y^{-1}xy\) is the commutator. Conditions like this were introduced by the reviewer [Isr. J. Math. 31, No. 2, 153--160 (1978; Zbl 0654.20019)]. A number of authors have since considered various related problems. In this paper the authors consider finite \(p\)-groups which are flat. They give examples of groups which are flat but do not have a Camina pair. They give some interesting examples and consider a character-theoretic consequence of flatness. Groups of nilpotence class two are flat; the authors construct an example of class three.