Barely transitive permutation groups (Q909021)

A group of permutations G of an infinite set \(\Omega\) is called a barely transitive group if G acts transitively on \(\Omega\) and every orbit of every proper subgroup is finite. These groups were introduced by \textit{B. Hartley} and examples of barely transitive, locally finite groups with \(G\neq G'\) are given by him [in Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 74, 11-15 (1973; Zbl 0264.20031) and Algebra Logika 13, 589-602 (1974; Zbl 0305.20019)] and the structure of a locally finite barely transitive group G with \(G\neq G'\) is reasonably well-understood. In this paper the structure of locally finite barely transitive groups with \(G=G'\) is studied and the following theorems are proved: If G is a locally finite, locally p- solvable barely transitive group containing a non-trivial element of order p, then: 1) G is a p-group 2) Every proper normal subgroup is nilpotent of finite exponent (p is always a prime number). A locally finite barely transitive group is a countable group. But the existence of a locally finite barely transitive group with \(G=G'\) is still unclear. Theorem \(1.3'\). If G is a countable locally finite simple group containing a semisimple element, then G is not barely transitive. In particular if a locally finite simple group can be written as a union of finite simple groups, then G can not be a barely transitive permutation group. In general, the question whether a locally finite simple group can be simple remains unclear.