Finite groups in which \(p'\)-classes have \(q'\)-length (Q5935802)

Over the years a number of the authors have considered the implications for the structure of a finite group when conditions are placed on the sizes of conjugacy classes, a small sample being [\textit{R. Baer}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 75, 20-47 (1953; Zbl 0051.25702), \textit{E. A. Bertram}, \textit{M. Herzog} and \textit{A. Mann}, Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 22, No. 6, 569-575 (1990; Zbl 0743.20017), \textit{D. Chillag} and \textit{M. Herzog}, J. Algebra 131, No. 1, 110-125 (1990; Zbl 0694.20015), \textit{A. R. Camina} and \textit{R. D. Damina}, J. Group Theory 1, No. 3, 257-269 (1998; Zbl 0916.20015)]. If \(G\) is a finite group and \(x\in G\) we use the term index of \(x\) in \(G\) to denote the size of the conjugacy class of \(x\) in \(G\). Let \(p\) and \(q\) be two primes. This paper considers groups \(G\) which satisfy the condition that every \(p'\)-element has \(q'\) index. Since it is clear that any \(q'\)-group satisfies the hypothesis the first part of the paper uses the classification of finite simple groups to show that if \(G\) satisfies \(P(p,q)\) then \(G\) is \(q\)-soluble and \(O^{q'}(G)\) is soluble. Also the Sylow \(q\)-subgroups are Abelian. They then consider soluble groups satisfying the condition and introduce a slightly odd notation. They say that a group \(G\) is a \(P(p,q)\) group if (i) \(G\) has \(P(p,q)\) for distinct primes \(p\) and \(q\); (ii) \(q\) divides the order of \(G\) and (iii) \(O_p(G)=O_q(G)\), and \(O^{q'}(G)=G\). The structure of such groups is then carefully studied. If \(G\) has \(P(p,q)\) then the Sylow \(p\)-subgroups of \(G/O_p(G)\) are Abelian. The detailed structure is quite complex but in some senses they are subgroups of direct products of one-dimensional semilinear affine groups.