On countable coverings of word values in profinite groups. (Q479299)

A multilinear commutator word (also known as an outer commutator word) is a group-word \(w(x_1,\ldots,x_n)\) in \(n\) variables, which is obtained by nesting commutators, and using each variable at most once. Given a group \(G\), the verbal subgroup \(w(G)\) is the subgroup of \(G\) generated by all the values \(w(g_1,\ldots,g_n)\), as \(g_1,\ldots,g_n\) range over all elements of \(G\). A number of recent papers, such as [\textit{J. R. Rogério} and \textit{P. Shumyatsky}, J. Group Theory 10, No. 6, 811-815 (2007; Zbl 1136.20021)]; [\textit{G. A. Fernández-Alcober} and \textit{P. Shumyatsky}, J. Algebra 319, No. 11, 4844-4851 (2008; Zbl 1154.20031)]; [\textit{C. Acciarri} and \textit{P. Shumyatsky}, Math. Z. 274, No. 1-2, 239-248 (2013; Zbl 1311.20032)]; [\textit{G. Cutolo} and \textit{C. Nicotera}, J. Algebra 324, No. 7, 1616-1624 (2010; Zbl 1215.20028)] have dealt with groups in which all the values of a certain multilinear commutator word are contained in a finite number of subgroups possessing a specific property, the goal being to obtain information on the verbal subgroup \(w(G)\). The main result of the paper under review states that if \(G\) is a profinite group, and \(w\) is a multilinear commutator word, such that all of its values lie in a union of countably many periodic subgroups, then \(w(G)\) is locally finite. Among the consequences, one finds that if \(G\) is a profinite group that is virtually soluble, and all values of the multilinear commutator word \(w\) have finite order, then \(w(G)\) is locally finite and has finite exponent.