On Bol loops of exponent 2. (Q555758)

The purpose of this paper is the description of the Baer correspondence between a loop \(X\) and its envelope \(\varepsilon(X)=(G,H,K)\), where \(K\) is the set of right translations of \(X\), \(G=\langle K\rangle\) is the right multiplication group or enveloping group of \(K\), and \(H\) is the (right) inner mapping group of \(X\). Using the Baer correspondence it might be possible to study finite loops using techniques from finite group theory. Since finite Bol loops correspond to twisted subgroups under the Baer correspondence, they are good candidates for this attempt. This paper gives an outline of a program to classify all finite simple Bol loops. An important role in the classification play the Bol loops of exponent 2. The author conjectures that the enveloping groups of finite Bol loops of exponent 2 are 2-groups. Therefore he introduces the notion of an \(N\)-loop: \(N\)-loops are minimal counterexamples to the conjecture that the enveloping group of a finite Bol loop of exponent 2 is a 2-group. The main theorem specifies some properties of \(N\)-loops.