Existentially closed locally finite central extensions; multipliers and local systems (Q801156)

Let A be a countable periodic abelian group. If \(\zeta\) (G) is the center of a group G then \(D_ A\) denotes the class of all countable locally finite groups G with \(A\subset \zeta (G)\). The class \(D_ A\) was studied by \textit{K. Hickin} [Universal locally finite central extensions of groups (to appear)] who proved that \(D_ A\) contains a unique existentially closed member \(E_ A\). This group and the group \(H_ A=E_ A/A\) have some remarkable properties. In particular Hickin observed that \(H_ A\) is simple and is not a direct limit of finite simple groups. Furthermore \(H_ A\) is universal, that is every finite simple group can be embedded into \(H_ A\). The author proves a number of new properties of \(E_ A\) and \(H_ A\). It is shown that \(E_ A\) is perfect and A is the Schur multiplier of \(H_ A\). For each A the group \(H_ A\) is a union of groups \(G_ n\) where \(G_ n\) is a direct product of finite non-abelian simple groups. These can be chosen among the groups PSL(m,p) as well as \(PSU(m,p^ 2)\) where p are prime.