On fixed-point-free automorphisms. (Q479782)

Let \(R\) be a cyclic group of prime order \(r\) acting on some extraspecial group \(F\) in such a way that \([R,F]=F\). Suppose further that \(RF\) acts on a finite group \(G\) with \(C_G(F)=1\) and \(r\) does not divide the order of \(G\). Then the authors prove that the upper Fitting series of \(C_G(R)\) is obtained by intersecting this group with the upper Fitting series of \(G\) itself. They deduce that, if, further, \(r\) is a non-Fermat prime, then the Fitting height of \(G\) and that of \(C_G(R)\) are equal. These results were originally inspired by recent work of \textit{E. I. Khukhro} [J. Algebra 366, 1-11 (2012; Zbl 1270.20024)]. As explained in the paper, it turns out that some of the results in the present paper are closely connected to results in [\textit{G. Ercan} and \textit{İ. Ş. Güloğlu}, J. Group Theory 17, No. 5, 863-873 (2014; Zbl 1305.20028); erratum 17, No. 5, 874 (2014)], which had been independently obtained.