On \(\aleph_ 0\)-categorical class two groups (Q789505)

A theory T of a countable language L is said to be \(\aleph_ 0\)- categorical if any two countable models of T are isomorphic. A structure M for L is called \(\aleph_ 0\)-categorical if the theory of M (in L) is \(\aleph_ 0\)-categorical. A subgroup G of the group Aut M of automorphisms of M is said to be almost r-transitive on M (\(r\geq 1)\) if G has only finitely many orbits in its action on \(M^ r\). The following well known theorem was proved independently by Engeler, Ryll-Nardzewski, and Svenonius: A countable structure M is \(\aleph_ 0\)-categorical iff Aut M is almost r-transitive on M for each \(r\geq 1.\) Nilpotent groups, even class 2 nilpotent groups, are very hard to classify. The aim of the present paper is to show that \(\aleph_ 0\)- categorical class 2 groups ''are no exception to this, and... to present some new examples of such groups''. Let G be a group, K be a subgroup of Z(G), \(\lambda\) be a cardinal, and \((K^{\lambda})\circ\) be \(\{\gamma \in K^{\lambda}| \quad \prod \quad_{\mu<\lambda}\gamma \pi_{\mu}=1\},\) where \(\pi_{\mu}:K^{\lambda}\to K\) is the projection map corresponding to \(\mu\). Then \(G(\lambda,K)=G^{\lambda}/(K^{\lambda})\circ\) is said to be the central product of \(\lambda\) copies of G amalgamated over K. Theorem A: Let G be a finite class 2 group, and K be a subgroup of G such that \(G'\leq K\leq Z(G).\) Then \(G(\omega\),K) is \(\aleph_ 0\)-categorical. The following notion is inspired by the work of \textit{D. Saracino} and \textit{C. Wood} [J. Algebra 58, 189-207 (1979)]: A class 2 group G is comprehensive if every compatible finite system of commutator equations \([a_ i,g]=z_ i\) in a single variable g is soluble in G. If Z is an abelian p-group and t,\(u\leq \infty\), then \(N_ 2(p^ u,p^ t/Z)\) denotes the class of groups G such that \(Z(G)\cong Z\), \(\exp G=p^ u\), \(\exp G^*=p^ t,\) and G is nilpotent of class 2. Theorem C: Let \(p\) be a prime, \(Z\) be a countable abelian group of exponent \(p^ s\) (\(s\leq\infty)\), \(s+t \geq u \geq s \geq t\), and let \(u>t\) if \(p=2\) and \(u<\infty\). Then there is a unique countable comprehensive group G in \(N_ 2(p^ u,p^ t/Z),\) and G is \(\aleph_ 0\)-categorical if \(u<\infty\). This gives for \(u<\infty\) a necessary and sufficient condition for the group \(G\) of Theorem C to have a model-complete theory. If \(G\) is any group and \(R\) is any Boolean ring, then a group, called the Boolean power of \(G\) by \(R\), can be constructed, which for certain choices of R is \(\aleph_ 0\)-categorical. This provides another source of \(\aleph_0\)-categorical class 2 groups. The author compares these with the groups arising in Theorem A and Theorem C.