Capable groups of order \(p^{2m+1}\) (Q6950130)

This paper investigates capable \(p\)-groups of order \(p^{2m+1}\), where a group \(G\) is capable if \(G \cong Q/Z(Q)\) for some group \(Q\). The author characterizes capability for several families of \(p\)-groups with specific commutator relations between three generators of orders \(p^m\), \(p^m\) and \(p\). The main results establish necessary and sufficient conditions for capability: One family is never capable (Theorem 3.3), another is capable only for \(p=2\) (Theorem 3.5) and a third requires equal exponents in two generators for \(p>2\) (Theorem 3.7). The proofs employ commutator calculus in metabelian groups, particularly utilizing identities for iterated commutators and properties of central series. For capable cases, explicit covering groups are constructed via semidirect products. The restriction to odd primes is essential in several results due to binomial coefficient properties. Applications include capability criteria for specific groups of order \(p^5\).