Conditions for linear groups to have unipotent derived subgroups. (Q975116)

Let \(R\) be an integral domain and \(n\) be a positive integer. Suppose that \(G\) is a soluble-by-finite subgroup of \(\text{GL}(n,R)\). The main purpose in the article under review is to discuss conditions under which \(G\) has a unipotent derived subgroup. In fact, the following question is under consideration. Is it true that the derived subgroup \(G'\) of \(G\) is always unipotent? The results, obtained in the article show that in both cases the answers may be yes or no. This depends on the properties of \(R\) and \(n\). The main facts are contained in the following theorems. Theorem 1. Let \(R\) be an integral domain of positive characteristic \(p\), \(\mathbf a\neq R\) an ideal of \(R\) and \(G\) a soluble-by-finite subgroup of \(\text{GL}(n,R)\) congruent to \(\langle 1\rangle\) modulo \(\mathbf a\). a) If \(p>n\) then \(G'\) is unipotent. b) If \(p\leq n\) there exists such \(R\), \(\mathbf a\) and \(G\) with \(G\) finitely generated, soluble and \(G'\) not unipotent. c) In general \(G\) has a normal subgroup \(C\) with \(C'\) unipotent and \(G/C\) is isomorphic to a \(p\)-subgroup of \(\text{Sym}(n)\); in particular \(G/C\) has order \(p^e\) for some \(e\) satisfying \(e(p-1)\leq(n-1)\). d) If \(G\) is generated by \(d\)-elements (that is, by diagonalizable elements), then again \(G'\) is unipotent. Theorem 2. Let \(R\) be an integral domain of characteristic zero, \(\mathbf a\) an ideal of \(R\) with \(p=\text{char\,}R/\mathbf a\) prime and \(G\) a soluble-by-finite subgroup of \(\text{GL}(n,R)\) congruent to \(\langle 1\rangle\) modulo \(\mathbf a\). a) If \(p>n\) then \(G'\) is unipotent. b) If \(p\leq n\) and \(p=2\) or \(3\), there exists such \(R\), \(\mathbf a\) and \(G\) with \(G\) a finitely generated, soluble torsion-free \(d\)-group and \(G'\) not unipotent. c) In general \(G\) has a normal subgroup \(C\) with \(C'\) unipotent and \(G/C\) is isomorphic to a \(p\)-subgroup of \(\text{Sym}(n)\); in particular \(G/C\) has order \(p^e\) for some \(e\) satisfying \(e(p-1)\leq(n-1)\). If \(G\) is a (Zariski) connected soluble-by-finite linear group, then \(G'\) is unipotent by Lie-Kolchin Theorem. Thus, in the situation of Theorems 1 and 2, if we can prove \(G\) is connected, then the solubility hypothesis yields the unipotence of \(G'\). The following theorem gives some conditions for \(G\) to be connected. Theorem 3. Let \(R\) be an integral domain of characteristic zero and suppose \(G\) is a subgroup of \(\text{GL}(n,R)\). a) If \(p\) is an odd prime or \(4\), if \(pR\neq R\) and if \(G\) is congruent to \(\langle 1\rangle\) modulo \(pR\), then \(G\) is connected. b) If \(R\) is Noetherian and \(\mathbf a=R\alpha\) is a principal maximal ideal of \(R\) such that \(p=\text{char\,}R/\mathbf a\) is prime and satisfies \(p\not\in\mathbf a^{p-1}\) if \(p\) is odd and \(p\not\in\mathbf a^2\) if \(p=2\), then \(G\) is connected whenever \(G\) is congruent to \(\langle 1\rangle\) modulo \(\mathbf a\) (resp. \(\mathbf a^2\) if \(p=2\)). c) Let \(J\) be a Dedekind domain of characteristic zero with quotient field \(F\). Let \(R\) be a subring of \(F\) containing \(J\) with a maximal ideal \(\mathbf m\) for which there is an integer prime \(p\) such that either \(p\in\mathbf m\setminus\mathbf m^{p-1}\) or \(p=2\in\mathbf m\setminus\mathbf m^2\). If \(G\) is congruent to \(\langle 1\rangle\) modulo \(\mathbf m\) (resp. \(\mathbf m^2\) if \(p=2\)), then \(G\) is connected.