The lie n-engel property in group rings

Let FGbe the group ring of a group Gover a field Fwhose characteristic is p≠ 2 Let ? denote the involution on FGwhich sends each group element to its inverse. Let (FG)⁺and (FG)^–denote, respectively, the sets of symmetric and skew elements with respect to ?.The conditions under which the group ring is Lie n-Engel for some nare known.We show that if either (FG)⁺or (FG)^–- is Lie n-Engel, and Gis devoid of 2-elements, then FGis Lie m-Engel for some m. Furthermore, we completely classify the remaining groups for which (FG)⁺is Lie n-Engel.     

Unitary units and skew elements in group algebras

 Let FG be the group algebra of a group G over a field F and let * denote the canonical involution of FG induced by the map g→g ⁻¹ ,gG. Let Un(FG)={uFG|uu ^* =1} be the group of unitary units of FG. In case char F=0, we classify the torsion groups G for which Un(FG) satisfies a group identity not vanishing on 2-elements. Along the way we actually prove that, in characteristic 0, the unitary group Un(FG) does not contain a free group of rank 2 if FG ⁻ , the Lie algebra of skew elements of FG, is Lie nilpotent. Motivated by this connection we characterize most groups G for which FG ⁻ is Lie nilpotent and char F≠2. Received: 15 July 2002 / Revised version: 28 December 2002 Published online: 24 April 2003 Research partially supported by MURST (Italy) and FAPESP and CNPq (Brazil). Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): Primary 16U60; Secondary 16W10, 20C07     

Group Rings Whose Symmetric Units Generate an n-Engel Group

Let F be an infinite field of characteristic different from 2 and G a torsion group. Write 𝒰⁺(FG) for the set of units in the group ring FG that are symmetric with respect to the classical involution induced from the map g ? g ^?1, for all g ∈ G. We classify the groups such that ?𝒰⁺(FG)? is n-Engel.     

The bounded Lie Engel property on torsion group algebras

Let F be a field of characteristic different from 2 and G a group with involution ∗. Extend the involution to the group ring FG, and write (FG)⁻ for the Lie subalgebra of FG consisting of the skew elements. We classify the torsion groups G having no elements of order 2 such that (FG)⁻ is bounded Lie Engel.     

Relatively Free Nilpotent Torsion-Free Groups and Their Lie Algebras

Let K be a field of characteristic zero. For a torsion-free finitely generated nilpotent group G, we naturally associate four finite dimensional nilpotent Lie algebras over K, ? _K (G), grad^(?)(? _K (G)), grad^(g)(exp ? _K (G)), and L _K (G). Let 𝔗 _c be a torsion-free variety of nilpotent groups of class at most c. For a positive integer n, with n ≥ 2, let F _n (𝔗 _c ) be the relatively free group of rank n in 𝔗 _c . We prove that ? _K (F _n (𝔗 _c )) is relatively free in some variety of nilpotent Lie algebras, and ? _K (F _n (𝔗 _c )) ? L _K (F _n (𝔗 _c )) ? grad^(?)(? _K (F _n (𝔗 _c ))) ? grad^(g)(exp ? _K (F _n (𝔗 _c ))) as Lie algebras in a natural way. Furthermore, F _n (𝔗 _c ) is a Magnus nilpotent group. Let G ₁ and G ₂ be torsion-free finitely generated nilpotent groups which are quasi-isometric. We prove that if G ₁ and G ₂ are relatively free of finite rank, then they are isomorphic. Let L be a relatively free nilpotent Lie algebra over ? of finite rank freely generated by a set X. Give on L the structure of a group R, say, by means of the Baker–Campbell–Hausdorff formula, and let H be the subgroup of R generated by the set X. We show that H is relatively free in some variety of nilpotent groups; freely generated by the set X, H is Magnus and L ? ?_?(H) ? L _?(H) as Lie algebras. For relatively free residually torsion-free nilpotent groups, we prove that ? _K and L _K are isomorphic as Lie algebras. We also give an example of a finitely generated Magnus nilpotent group G, not relatively free, such that ?_?(G) is not isomorphic to L _?(G) as Lie algebras.     

Basic subgroups in modular abelian group algebras

Suppose F is a perfect field of char F = p ≠ 0 and G is an arbitrary abelian multiplicative group with a p-basic subgroup B and p-component G _p . Let FG be the group algebra with normed group of all units V(FG) and its Sylow p-subgroup S(FG), and let I _p (FG; B) be the nilradical of the relative augmentation ideal I(FG; B) of FG with respect to B. The main results that motivate this article are that 1 + I _p (FG; B) is basic in S(FG), and B(1 + I _p (FG; B)) is p-basic in V(FG) provided G is p-mixed. These achievements extend in some way a result of N. Nachev (1996) in Houston J. Math. when G is p-primary. Thus the problem of obtaining a (p-)basic subgroup in FG is completely resolved provided that the field F is perfect. Moreover, it is shown that G _p (1 + I _p (FG; B))/G _p is basic in S(FG)/G _p , and G(1 + I _p (FG; B))/G is basic in V(FG)/G provided G is p-mixed. As consequences, S(FG) and S(FG)/G _p are both starred or divisible groups. All of the listed assertions enlarge in a new aspect affirmations established by us in Czechoslovak Math. J. (2002), Math. Bohemica (2004) and Math. Slovaca (2005) as well.     

Simple Components of the Center of FG/J(FG)

Let G be a finite group, F a field, FG the group ring of G over F, and J(FG) the Jacobson radical of FG. Using a result of Berman and Witt, we give a method to determine the structure of the center of FG/J(FG), provided that F satisfies a field theoretical condition.     

Star-group identities and groups of units

Analogous to *-identities in rings with involution we define *-identities in groups. Suppose that G is a torsion group with involution * and that F is an infinite field with char F ≠ 2. Extend * linearly to FG. We prove that the unit group U{\mathcal{U}} of FG satisfies a *-identity if and only if the symmetric elements U⁺{\mathcal{U}^+} satisfy a group identity.     

On simple modules and normal subgroups of p-solvable groups

Let N be a normal subgroup of a p-solvable group G and let M be a simple FN-module, where F is an algebraically closed field of characteristic p. Next, denote by IRR⁰(FG|M) the set of all simple FG-modules V lying over M such that the p-part of dim_F V is as small as possible. In this paper, |IRR⁰(FG|M)| and the vertices of modules in IRR⁰(FG|M) are determined. The p-blocks of G to which modules in IRR⁰(FG|M) belong are also determined.Received: 5 December 2003     

Lie properties of symmetric elements in group rings II

Let F be a field of characteristic different from 2, and G a group with involution ∗. Write (FG)⁺ for the set of elements in the group ring FG that are symmetric with respect to the induced involution. Recently, Giambruno, Polcino Milies and Sehgal showed that if G has no 2-elements, and (FG)⁺ is Lie nilpotent (resp. Lie n-Engel), then FG is Lie nilpotent (resp. Lie m-Engel, for some m). Here, we classify the groups containing 2-elements such that (FG)⁺ is Lie nilpotent or Lie n-Engel.     

Geometrie du plan projectif des octaves de Cayley

In this article we study certain geometric aspects of the projective plane P ₂(O) over the octaves (Cayley numbers) over the reals. First, we use the explicit representation of points of P ₂(O) by Hermitian 3×3 matrices over the octaves to determine homogeneous coordinates on the projective line with the help of the fibration of S ¹⁵ with basis S ⁸ and fiber S ⁷. Next we give a table of Lie products in the Lie algebra F ₄, which enables us to explicitly compute the curvature tensor of P ₂(O) as a symmetric space. Finally we exhibit a non-zero skew symmetric 8-form which is invariant under the holonomy group Spin(9). The expression we obtain is the analog of the Kähler form and the fundamental 4-form on the complex and quaternion projective plane, respectively.     

Totally geodesic submanifolds in Lie groups

Summary We study minimal and totally geodesic submanifolds in Lie groups and related problems. We show that: (1) The imbedding of the Grassmann manifold G_F(n,N) in the Lie group G_F(N) defined naturally makes G_F(n,N) a totally geodesic submanifold; (2) The imbedding S⁷→SO(8) defined by octonians makes S⁷a totally geodesic submanifold inSO(8); (3) The natural inclusion of the Lie group G_F(N) in the sphere S^{cN^2-1}(√N) of gl(N,F)is minimal. Therefore the natural imbedding G_F(N)<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>→gl(N,F)is formed by the eigenfunctions of the Laplacian on G_F(N).     

Commutative Group Algebras of Cardinality {\cal N} 1

We let FG be the group algebra of an abelian group G over a field F with characteristic p. Also, we define G_p and S(FG) as the groups of all p-primary normed elements in G and FG, respectively. We prove that if G_p is Hausdorff and both F and G have cardinalities not exceeding ₁, then S(FG)/G_p is a direct sum of cyclics. Thus G_p is a direct factor of S(FG), and in particular G is a direct factor of the group of all normalized units V(FG), provided that the torsion part of G is a p-group. This answers a question posed by us in Hokkaido Math. J. (2000). Moreover we establish that if G is p-splitting, then any F-isomorphism of the group algebras FG and FH implies that H is p-splitting. We also show that if G is of power ₁ whose p-component G_p is a direct sum of torsion-complete groups and F has power p, then the F-isomorphism of FG and FH for any group H yields an isomorphism between G_p and H_p. In particular, when G is of power ₁ and is p-mixed of torsion-free rank 1 whose G_p is torsion-complete, we have G H. If F is in power p and G, with cardinality ₁, is a direct sum of p-local algebraically compact groups such that FG FH as F-algebras for some group H, then G H. These statements extend results due to Beers-Richman-Walker (1983), and also partially solve a well-known question raised by May in 1979.     

Symmetric units and group identities

In this paper we study rings R with an involution whose symmetric units satisfy a group identity. An important example is given by FG, the group algebra of a group G over a field F; in fact FG has a natural involution induced by setting g?g ⁻¹ for all group elements g∈G. In case of group algebras if F is infinite, charF≠ 2 and G is a torsion group we give a characterization by proving the following: the symmetric units satisfy a group identity if and only if either the group of units satisfies a group identity (and a characterization is known in this case) or char F=p >0 and 1) FG satisfies a polynomial identity, 2) the p-elements of G form a (normal) subgroup P of G and G/P is a Hamiltonian 2-group; 3) G is of bounded exponent 4p ^s for some s≥ 0. Received: 8 August 1997     

Lie *-Nilpotence of Group Rings

Let KG be the group ring of a group G over a field K. Let * be an involution of a group G extended linearly to the group ring KG. Suppose that G is a torsion group without 2-elements and K is a field with characteristic different from 2. We prove that KG is Lie *-nilpotent if and only if KG is Lie nilpotent.     

Semiprime Lie Rings of (Anti-)Symmetric Derivations of Commutative Rings

Let R be a 2-torsion free commutative ring with involution, and δ a nonzero derivation of R. Let S be the set of symmetric elements in R, and let K be the set of anti-symmetric elements in R. In this article, we investigate the semiprimeness of the Lie rings Sδ when δ is symmetric and Kδ when δ is anti-symmetric.     

ON SYMMETRIC UNITS IN GROUP ALGEBRAS

Let U(KG) be the group of units of the group ring KG of the group G over a commutative ring K. The anti-automorphism g → g ^?1 of G can be extended linearly to an anti-automorphism a → a ^* of KG. Let S _* (KG) = {x ∈ U(KG) | x ^* = x} be the set of all symmetric units of U(KG). We consider the following question: for which groups G and commutative rings K it is true that S _* (KG) is a subgroup in U(KG). We answer this question when either a) G is torsion and K is a commutative G-favourable integral domain of characteristic p≥ 0 or b) G is non-torsion nilpotent group and KG is semiprime.     

K4−‐factor in a graph

Let G be a graph of order 4k and let δ(G) denote the minimum degree of G. Let F be a given connected graph. Suppose that |V(G)| is a multiple of |V(F)|. A spanning subgraph of G is called an F‐factor if its components are all isomorphic to F. In this paper, we prove that if δ(G)≥5/2k, then G contains a K₄^?‐factor (K₄^? is the graph obtained from K₄ by deleting just one edge). The condition on the minimum degree is best possible in a sense. In addition, the proof can be made algorithmic. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 39: 111–128, 2002     

Weakly symmetric spaces and bounded symmetric domains

LetG be a connected, simply-connected, real semisimple Lie group andK a maximal compactly embedded subgroup ofG such thatD=G/K is a hermitian symmetric space. Consider the principal fiber bundleM=G/K _s G/K, whereK _s is the semisimple part ofK=K _s ·Z _K ⁰ andZ _K ⁰ is the connected center ofK. The natural action ofG onM extends to an action ofG ¹=G×Z _K ⁰ . We prove as the main result thatM is weakly symmetric with respect toG ¹ and complex conjugation. In the case whereD is an irreducible classical bounded symmetric domain andG is a classical matrix Lie group under a suitable quotient, we provide an explicit construction ofM=D×S ¹ and determine a one-parameter family of Riemannian metrics onM invariant underG ¹. Furthermore,M is irreducible with respect to . As a result, this provides new examples of weakly symmetric spaces that are nonsymmetric, including those already discovered by Selberg (cf. [M]) for the symplectic case and Berndt and Vanhecke [BV1] for the rank-one case.Research partially supported by an NSF grant. The author wishes to thank the International Erwin Schroedinger Institute for its hospitality during the preparation of this paper.