The derived series of GGS groups (Q7253441)

The paper under review determines the derived series of Grigorchuk-Gupta-Sidki groups, or GGS groups, acting on the \(p\)-adic tree, where \(p\) is an odd prime. Such groups are automorphism groups of regular rooted trees defined by a nonzero vector over \(\mathbb{F}_p\).\N\NFor a GGS group \(G\) defined by a nonconstant vector \(e\in\mathbb{F}_p^{p-1}\), the main result gives an explicit formula for the indices \(|G:G^{(n)}|\), for all \(n\geq 2\). The formula depends only on whether \(e\) and its first two difference vectors are constant or symmetric.\N\NThe paper also describes the derived subgroups themselves. In particular, for GGS groups defined by nonconstant vectors, the quotients \(G^{(n)}/G^{(n+1)}\) are elementary abelian \(p\)-groups, and hence the Frattini series coincides with the derived series. The final part determines the isomorphism classes of GGS groups with maximal possible derived-series indices among those defined by nonconstant vectors.