Locally finite groups containing a \(2\)-element with Chernikov centralizer. (Q907034)

Let \(G\) be a locally finite group containing an element \(g\) of order a power of 2 whose centralizer in \(G\) is a Chernikov group. The authors prove that if also the centralizer in \(G\) of the involution of \(\langle g\rangle\) is nilpotent, then \(G\) has a soluble subgroup of finite index. This is a much-worked area. For example, the case where \(g\) has order 2 was settled by \textit{A. O. Asar} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 45, 337-364 (1982; Zbl 0498.20027)]. If we replace \(g\) has order a power of 2 by \(g\) has prime power order, then the case where \(g\) has prime order was studied by \textit{V. Turau} [Arch. Math. 44, 297-308 (1985; Zbl 0544.20030)] and in general \textit{B. Hartley} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 37, No. 3, 421-436 (1988; Zbl 0619.20018)] showed that \(G\) is a finite extension of at least a locally soluble group. The paper under review contains an excellent survey of past work in this area, of which our remarks here form only a part.