Group algebras with minimal Lie derived length. (Q950210)

The group algebra \(FG\) of a group \(G\) over a field \(F\) can be viewed as a Lie algebra with the Lie product defined by \([x,y]=xy-yx\), for all \(x,y\in FG\). Let \(\delta^{[0]}(FG)=FG\) and for \(n\geq 1\) let \(\delta^{[n]}(FG)\) be the additive subgroup generated by all Lie products \([x,y]\) with \(x,y\in\delta^{[n-1]}(FG)\). We say that \(FG\) is Lie solvable if there exists \(n\) such that \(\delta^{[n]}(FG)=0\); the least such \(n\) is called the Lie derived length of \(FG\). Evidently, if \(FG\) is commutative then its Lie derived length must be one. For non-commutative Lie solvable group algebras of positive characteristic \(p\), \textit{A. Shalev} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 78, No. 3, 291-300 (1992; Zbl 0765.16007)] proved that their Lie derived length is at least \(\lceil\log_2(p+1)\rceil\), where \(\lceil r\rceil\) denotes the upper integral part of a real number \(r\). He also showed that this bound is actually the best one, and posed the question of characterizing groups for which this lower bound is achieved. This question is completely answered in the paper under review.