On the torsion product and direct sums of primary cyclic groups. (Q926846)

The author considers the following problem of R. Nunke: when is the torsion product \(\text{Tor}(G,H)\) of the Abelian \(p\)-groups \(G\) and \(H\) a \(\Sigma\)-cyclic group, i.e. direct sum of cyclic groups. For an arbitrary ordinal \(\alpha\) a collection \(\mu_\alpha(G)\) of invariants of a group \(G\) is constructed. These invariants take their values in a collection of inductively defined partially ordered sets \(P_\alpha\) on which is also inductively defined a product. Every \(P_\alpha\) has a smallest and a largest element \(0_\alpha\) and \(1_\alpha\), respectively, such that \(0_\alpha X=0_\alpha\) and \(1_\alpha X=1_\alpha\) for all \(X\in P_\alpha\). Let \(\delta_w\) be the smallest inaccessible cardinal, if it exists, and let it be denoted by the symbol \(\infty\) otherwise. We note the following most important results which give an answer to Nunke's problem. (i) If \(G\) is a group of cardinality \(\aleph_\alpha<\delta_w\), then \(G\) is \(\Sigma\)-cyclic iff \(\mu_\alpha(G)=0_\alpha\) (Theorem 10). (ii) If \(\alpha\) is an ordinal and \(G\) and \(H\) are groups, then \(\mu_\alpha(\text{Tor}(G,H))=\mu_\alpha(G)\mu_\alpha(H)\) (Theorem 11). (iii) If \(G\) and \(H\) are groups whose cardinality does not exceed \(\aleph_\alpha<\delta_w\), then \(\text{Tor}(G,H)\) is \(\Sigma\)-cyclic iff \(\mu_\alpha(G)\mu_\alpha(H)=0_\alpha\) (Corollary 12). The author considers groups of infinitely countable lengths. Then Nunke's problem is whether \(\text{Tor}(G,H)\) is a direct sum of countable groups. In this case the author obtains results analogous to those listed above.