Nil-automorphisms of groups with residual properties. (Q375500)

Let \(G\) be any group and \(x\) an automorphism of \(G\). The automorphism \(x\) is called `nil' if, for every \(g\in G\), there exists \(n=n(g)\) such that \([g,{_nx}]=1\). If \(n\) can be chosen independently of \(g\), we say that \(x\) is `\(n\)-unipotent'. A nil (resp. unipotent) automorphism \(x\) could be seen as a left Engel element (resp. left \(n\)-Engel element) in the relative holomorph \(G\langle x\rangle\) of \(G\). The following questions are studied in the paper under review. Question 1. Is it true that every finite group of nil-automorphisms is nilpotent? Question 2. Let \(G\) be a group and \(H\leq\Aut(G)\). Assume that, for some \(n\), the identity \([g,{_nx}]=1\) holds for all \(g\in G\) and \(x\in H\). Under which hypothesis on \(G\) is it true that \(H\) is (locally) nilpotent? Main results of the paper under review are the following: Theorem A: If \(G\) satisfies Max, and \(H\) is any group of nil-automorphisms of \(G\), then \([G,H]\) is contained in the Fitting radical of \(G\) and \(H\) stabilizes a finite subnormal series in \(G\). In particular, \(H\) is nilpotent. Theorem B: Let \(G\) be a locally graded group, and \(H\) a finite group of nil-automorphisms of \(G\). Then \(H\) is nilpotent. Theorem C: Let \(G\) be a profinite group and \(H\) an abstract finitely generated group of \(n\)-unipotent automorphisms. Assume that \(G\) has a basis of open normal subgroups whose members are normalized by \(H\). Then \(F=cl_G([G,H])\) is pro-nilpotent and \(H\) is nilpotent.