Local arguments for a theorem of \(Z_3^*\)-type. (Q5964506)

Let \(G\) be a finite group and \(p\) be a prime. Then \(Z^*_p(G)\) denotes the full pre-image of \(Z(G/O_{p'}(G))\) where \(O_{p'}(G)\) is the largest normal subgroup of \(G\) of order prime to \(p\). Is there a local condition for an element of order \(p\) of \(G\) to be contained in \(Z^*_p\)? \textit{G. Glauberman} [in J. Algebra 4, 403-420 (1966; Zbl 0145.02802)] answered this question positively for \(p =2\) by the \(Z^*\)-theorem. For odd primes a generalisation of Glauberman's theorem can be found for example in Theorem 7.8.3 of \textit{D. Gorenstein, R. Lyons} and \textit{R. Solomon} [The classification of the finite simple groups. Part I, Chapter A: Almost simple \(K\)-groups. Providence: AMS (1998; Zbl 0890.20012)]. Its proof relies on the full strength of the classification of the finite simple groups and there is still neither a classification-free proof nor a proof which provides some insight in terms of the subgroup structure. Glauberman proved his theorem with modular representation theory. Recently \textit{R. Waldecker} [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 1061 (2013; Zbl 1298.20018)] gave local arguments for a new proof of this theorem assuming a weak \(K\)-hypothesis. The case \(p=3\) had been looked at earlier by \textit{P. Rowley} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 43, 357-384 (1981; Zbl 0467.20023)]. He proved the following theorem: If \(P\) be a Sylow 3-subgroup of a finite group \(G\) and \(x\in P\) is 3-locally central in \(G\) with respect to \(P\) (i.e., \(N_G(R)\leq C_G(x)\) for all \(1\neq R\leq P\)), then \(x\in Z^*_3(G)\). -- In the given paper, the author gives a new proof of Rowley's theorem using local methods.