On groups of finite Prüfer rank (Q6589791)

Let \(G\) be a group. Recall that \(G\) has finite rank \(r\) if and only if any finitely generated subgroup of \(G\) can be generated by at most \(r\) elements. A well-known result by \textit{V. P. Shunkov} [Algebra Logic 10, 127--142 (1972; Zbl 0243.20030)] states that any locally finite group of finite rank is almost locally solvable. In contrast, \textit{A. Yu. Ol'shanskiji constructed periodic, \(2\)-generated simple groups of rank \(2\), showing that interesting cases can arise when the group is not locally finite (for the details of such constructions see [Geometry of defining relations in groups. Dordrecht etc.: Kluwer Academic Publishers (1991; Zbl 0732.20019)]).\N\N\NIn particular, a famous result by \textit{D. N. Azarov} and \textit{N. S. Romanovskii} [Sib. Math. J. 60, No. 3, 373--376 (2019; Zbl 1481.20120); translation from Sib. Mat. Zh. 60, No. 3, 484--488 (2019)] says that if \(G\) is a group of finite rank and \(\pi\) is a finite set of primes with the extra assumption \(G\) being either solvable or finitely generated, then \(G\) contains a subgroup \(H\) of finite index such that every finite \(\pi\)-image of \(H\) is nilpotent. In this insightful article, the author generalizes this result proving that under such assumptions \(G\) contains indeed a characteristic subgroup with the desired properties.