On Lockett pairs and Lockett conjecture for \(\pi\)-soluble Fitting classes. (Q360975)

This paper is framed in the theory of Fitting classes of finite groups. Every non-empty Fitting class \(\mathfrak F\) has associated two Fitting classes, introduced by \textit{F. P. Lockett} [in Math. Z. 137, 131-136 (1974; Zbl 0286.20017)]: \(\mathfrak F^*\) is the smallest Fitting class containing \(\mathfrak F\) such that the \(\mathfrak F^*\)-radical of the direct product \(G\times H\) of any two groups \(G\) and \(H\) is equal to the direct product of the \(\mathfrak F^*\)-radical of \(G\) and the \(\mathfrak F^*\)-radical of \(H\); \(\mathfrak F_*\) is the intersection of all Fitting classes \(\mathfrak X\) such that \(\mathfrak X^*=\mathfrak F^*\). If \(\mathfrak F\) is a Fitting class such that \(\mathfrak F=\mathfrak F^*\), then \({\mathfrak F}\) is called a Lockett class. Let \(\mathfrak S\) be the class of all finite soluble groups. Lockett [in loc. cit.] raised the question whether every Fitting class \(\mathfrak F\subseteq\mathfrak S\) has the form \(\mathfrak X\cap\mathfrak F^*\) for some normal Fitting class \(\mathfrak X\). This question has come to be known as Lockett conjecture (in \(\mathfrak S\)). \textit{T. R. Berger} and \textit{J. Cossey} [in Math. Z. 154, 287-293 (1977; Zbl 0336.20012)] proved that a Fitting class \(\mathfrak F\subseteq\mathfrak S\) satisfies Lockett's conjecture if and only if \(\mathfrak F_*=\mathfrak F^*\cap\mathfrak S_*\). They also gave the concept of Lockett pair: an ordered pair \((\mathfrak{F,H})\) of two Fitting classes is called a Lockett pair if \(\mathfrak F\cap\mathfrak H_*=(\mathfrak F\cap\mathfrak H)_*\). It can be seen that if \(\mathfrak F\) is a Lockett class, \(\mathfrak F\subseteq\mathfrak H\) and \((\mathfrak{F,H})\) is a Lockett pair, then \(\mathfrak F_*=\mathfrak F^*\cap\mathfrak H_*\). In this later case, it is said that \(\mathfrak F\) satisfies Lockett's conjecture in \(\mathfrak H\). In the paper under review the authors construct a new family of Lockett pairs in the class \(\mathfrak S^\pi\) of all finite \(\pi\)-soluble groups. In particular, this allows to obtain new Fitting classes which satisfy Lockett's conjecture. As an application some known results follow.