On class preserving automorphisms of groups. (Q480415)

Let \(G\) be a group; an automorphism \(\alpha\in\Aut(G)\) is class preserving if, for every \(g\in G\), there is an element \(a\in G\) depending on \(g\), such that \(g^\alpha=g^a\). The set \(\Aut^c(G)\) of all class preserving automorphisms of a group \(G\) is a normal subgroup of \(\Aut(G)\) and, clearly, \(\mathrm{Inn}(G)\leq\Aut^c(G)\). The main result of this paper is Theorem A: Let \(G\) be a solvable group of derived length \(d\), then \(\Aut^c(G)\) is a solvable group of derived length \(d\) or \(d-1\). Theorem B states that if \(G\) is a group such that \(\gamma_k(G)\) is cyclic, then \(\Aut^c(G)/\mathrm{Inn}(G)\) is nilpotent of class at most \(k\).