Nilpotency of group ring units symmetric with respect to an involution. (Q964514)

Let \(FG\) be the group algebra of the torsion group \(G\) over the infinite field \(F\) of characteristic \(p\neq 2\). Let \(*\) be the involution of the group algebra induced by an involution of the group. \textit{A. Giambruno, S. K. Sehgal} and \textit{A. Valenti} [Manuscr. Math. 96, No. 4, 443-461 (1998; Zbl 0910.16015)] and \textit{S. K. Sehgal} and \textit{A. Valenti} [Manuscr. Math. 119, No. 2, 243-254 (2006; Zbl 1088.16023)] described group algebras in which symmetric units with respect to the classical involution satisfy a group identity. \textit{G. T. Lee} [Commun. Algebra 31, No. 2, 581-608 (2003; Zbl 1033.16013)] and \textit{G. T. Lee, C. Polcino Milies} and \textit{S. K. Sehgal} [J. Group Theory 10, No. 5, 685-701 (2007; Zbl 1128.16018)] determined group algebras in which symmetric units with respect to the classical involution satisfy the nilpotency identity \((x_1,\dots,x_n)\) for some \(n\). The goal of the paper is to generalize this to an arbitrary involution \(*\). The group \(G\) is said to be an LC-group if it is nonabelian, and \(gh=hg\) for elements of the group implies that at least one of the elements \(g\), \(h\) or \(gh\) is central. An LC-group \(G\) is said to be an SLC-group if it has a unique nonidentity commutator \(z\), and \(g^*=g\) for a central element \(g\) and \(g^*=zg\) otherwise. The main result is that symmetric units of the group algebra \(FG\) satisfy the nilpotency identity for some \(n\) while the group of units is itself not nilpotent if and only if the group \(G\) is nilpotent and has a finite normal \(*\)-invariant normal \(p\)-subgroup with SLC factor-group. In the infinite \(G\) case it is crucial in the proof that nilpotency for the symmetric units implies Lie-nilpotency for the symmetric elements, which problem was resolved by \textit{A. Giambruno, C. Polcino Milies} and \textit{S. K. Sehgal} [J. Algebra 321, No. 3, 890-902 (2009; Zbl 1169.16014)] and by the authors [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 213, No. 6, 1173-1178 (2009; Zbl 1170.16019)].