Some restrictions on normalizers or centralizers in finite \(p\)-groups. (Q891078)

Let \(G\) be a non-Dedekindian finite \(p\)-group. Set \(\text{mni}(G)\) the maximum of \(|N_G(H):H|\) for nonnormal \(H<G\), \(\text{mni}^*(G)\) the maximum of \(|N_G(\langle g\rangle):\langle g\rangle|\) for nonnormal \(\langle g\rangle<G\), \(\text{mci}^*(G)\) the maximum of \(|C_G(\langle g\rangle):\langle g\rangle|\) for nonnormal \(\langle g\rangle<G\). Consider the following conditions: (1) \(\text{mni}(G)\leq p^k\); (2) \(\text{mni}^*(G)\leq p^k\); (3) \(\text{mci}^*(G)\leq p^k\). Answering a problem posed by Y. Berkovich, \textit{Q. Zhang} and \textit{J. Gao} [J. Korean Math. Soc. 49, No. 1, 201-221 (2012; Zbl 1242.20023)] have determined all groups \(G\) satisfying (1) for \(k=1\), and \textit{X. Zhang} and \textit{X. Guo} [in J. Group Theory 15, No. 5, 641-659 (2012; Zbl 1268.20021)] have shown that if \(p>2\) and (3) is satisfied than \(|G|\leq p^{(2k+1)(k+1)}\). In the present paper it is established that (1) and (2) are equivalent; if either of the three conditions holds then for odd \(p\), \(|G|\leq p^{2k+2}\), sharp bound for each of the three conditions; for \(p=2\) there exists a polynomial \(f(k)\) of degree 4 such that if \(|G|>2^{f(k)}\) then \(G\) belongs to one of two families, both of form \(\langle A,b\rangle\) with \(A\) normal Abelian and \(b^2\in\Omega_1(A)\), in the first family \(A\) is of exponent \(2^n\) and for any \(a\in A\), \(a^b=a^s\) with \(s=-1\), \(n\geq 1\) or \(s=-1+2^{n-1}\), \(n\geq 3\); in the second family \(A=\langle a_1\rangle\times A^*\) with \(a_1\) of order \(2^n\) and \(A^*\) of order \(2^m\), \(a_1^b=a_1^sz\) and \(a^{*b}=a^{*s}\) for every \(a^*\in A^*\), \(z\in\Omega_1(A^*)\), \(s=-1\), \(n\geq 2\) or \(s=-1+2^{n-1}\), \(n\geq 3\), \(n\geq m\). Proofs are complicated harnessing intrinsic structural properties.