Maximal subrings and \(E\)-groups. (Q884663)

Let \(G\) be a finite (additive) group, \(M_0(G)\) the nearring of all mappings \(f\colon G\to G\) with \(f(0)=0\), and \(E(G)\) the subnearring of \(M_0(G)\) generated by the endomorphisms of \(G\). In this article, two main problems are investigated: (a) when is \(E(G)\) maximal as a subnearring of \(M_0(G)\), and (b) when is \(E(G)\) a ring (in this case, \(G\) is said to be an \(E\)-group)? The first question is determined completely together with a result of \textit{A. Kreuzer} and \textit{C. J. Maxson} [Forum Math. 18, No. 1, 107-114 (2006; Zbl 1100.20037)]. Namely, \(E(G)\) is a maximal subnearring of \(M_0(G)\) if and only if \(G\cong\mathbb{Z}_3\) or \(G\cong(\mathbb{Z}_2)^n\), \(n\) a positive integer. The second question has related questions: When is \(I(G)\) (resp.\ \(A(G)\)), the subnearring of \(M_0(G)\) generated by the inner automorphisms (resp.~the automorphisms), a ring? Put it short, when is \(G\) an \(I\)-group (resp.~\(A\)-group)? \textit{A. J. Chandy} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 30, 59-60 (1971; Zbl 0218.16020)] showed that \(G\) is an \(I\)-group if and only if \(C_G(x)\) is a normal subgroup of \(G\) for all \(x\in G\). Here \(C_G(x)\) is the centralizer of \(x\) in \(G\). In this article, a similar characterization for nilpotent groups is given: If \(G\) is a finite \(p\)-group, \(p>2\), then \(G\) is an \(E\)-group if and only if \(C_G(x)\) is a fully invariant subgroup of \(G\) for all \(x\in G\). -- The characterization for a nilpotent \(G\) to be an \(A\)-group still remains open. The authors also investigate partially the problem when \(E(G)\) is maximal as a subring in \(M_0(G)\).