A note on central automorphisms that fix the center elementwise (Q7026401)

In this paper, the author investigates the structure of central automorphisms that fix the center of a finite \(p\)-group elementwise. Specifically, the study focuses on characterizing all finite \(p\)-groups \(G\) for which the index \(|C_{\mathrm{Aut}_{c}}(G)(Z(G)) : \mathrm{Inn}(G)|\) is equal to \(p^3\) or \(p^4\). This problem is rooted in the broader study of automorphism groups of finite \(p\)-groups and their relationships with inner and central automorphisms.\N\NThe motivation for this research stems from earlier work by \textit{M. J. Curran} and \textit{D. J. McCaughan} [Commun. Algebra 29, No. 5, 2081--2087 (2001; Zbl 0991.20019)], who classified finite \(p\)-groups satisfying \(\mathrm{Aut}_c(G)=\mathrm{Inn}(G)\). Their results were extended by later studies, which established conditions under which \(|\mathrm{Aut}_{c}(G) : \mathrm{Inn}(G) |\) is bounded by a power of \(p\).\N\NThe main results of the paper are Theorems A and B, which provide necessary and sufficient conditions for a finite \(p\)-group \(G\) of class \(2\) to \Nsatisfy \(|C_{\mathrm{Aut}_{c}}(G)(Z(G)) : \mathrm{Inn}(G)|= p^3\) or \(p^4\).