On the residual finiteness of outer automorphisms of relatively hyperbolic groups

We show that every virtually torsion-free subgroup of the outer automorphism group of a conjugacy separable relatively hyperbolic group is residually finite. As a direct consequence, we obtain that the outer automorphism group of a limit group is residually finite.     

Automorphisms of groups

The survey presents classical assertions due to Nielsen, Whitehead, and others, well-known theorems on automorphisms included in monographs on group theory, and recent results in this area. Attention is focused on the progress in automorphism groups theory for free, solvable, modular, and profinite groups. New tools of investigation using graphs and geometrical ideas are also discussed.     

On soluble skew linear groups over finite-dimensional division algebras

Let D be a division ring of finite degree d and let n be a positive integer. If G is any soluble subgroup of , we prove that G has derived length at most

9+log₂d+(11/3)log₂n     

Coleman automorphisms of finite groups

An automorphism of a finite group G whose restriction to any Sylow subgroup equals the restriction of some inner automorphism of G shall be called Coleman automorphism, named for D. B. Coleman, who's important observation from [2] especially shows that such automorphisms occur naturally in the study of the normalizer of G in the units of the integral group . Let Out be the image of these automorphisms in Out. We prove that Out is always an abelian group (based on previous work of E. C. Dade, who showed that Out is always nilpotent). We prove that if no composition factor of G has order p (a fixed prime), then Out is a -group. If O, it suffices to assume that no chief factor of G has order p. If G is solvable and no chief factor of has order 2, then , where is the center of . This improves an earlier result of S. Jackowski and Z. Marciniak. Received: 26 May 2000; in final form: 5 October 2000 / Published online: 19 October 2001     

On a theorem of Burnside on fixed-point-free automorphisms

We prove that a finite group having a fixed-point-free automorphism in the Fitting subgroup of its automorphism group must be abelian of rather restricted structure. As a consequence, no finite nonabelian group could have a fixed-point-free automorphism in the Frattini subgroup of its automorphism group. Received: 21 April 2007, Revised: 18 May 2007     

Non-cancellation for certain classes of groups

For a certain class of groups, which are semidirect products arising from an action of a finite rank free abelian group on another group, we study cancellation of the infinite cyclic group in isomorphic direct products. As an application we obtain a sufficient condition for triviality of the genus of certain nilpotent groups.     

Almost fixed-point-free automorphisms of order 2

Let φ be an automorphism of order 2 of the group G with C _G (φ) finite. We prove the following. If G has finite Hirsch number then G is (nilpotent of class at most 2)-by-finite but need not be abelian-by-finite. If G is a finite extension of a soluble group with finite abelian ranks, then G is abelian-by-finite.     

Almost fixed-point-free automorphisms of prime order

Let ϕ be an automorphism of prime order p of the group G with C _G (ϕ) finite of order n. We prove the following. If G is soluble of finite rank, then G has a nilpotent characteristic subgroup of finite index and class bounded in terms of p only. If G is a group with finite Hirsch number h, then G has a soluble characteristic subgroup of finite index in G with derived length bounded in terms of p and n only and a soluble characteristic subgroup of finite index in G whose index and derived length are bounded in terms of p, n and h only. Here a group has finite Hirsch number if it is poly (cyclic or locally finite). This is a stronger notion than that used in [Wehrfritz B.A.F., Almost fixed-point-free automorphisms of order 2, Rend. Circ. Mat. Palermo (in press)], where the case p = 2 is discussed.     

Twisted conjugacy classes in nilpotent groups

Let N be a finitely generated nilpotent group. We show that there is an algorithm that for any automorphism φ∈Aut(N) computes its Reidemeister number R(φ). It is proved that any free nilpotent group N_rc of rank r and class c belongs to class R_∞ if any of the following conditions holds: r=2 and c≥4; r=3 and c≥12; r≥4 and c≥2r.     

On commuting automorphisms of groups

This paper examines group automorphisms for which each element commutes with its image. These automorphisms do not necessarily form a subgroup of the automorphism group, but have a number of interesting properties, close to those of central automorphisms. Research of the first named author was supported by Grant SM 177 from Kuwait University Research Administration.     

Almost convex groups and the eight geometries

IfM is a closed Nil geometry 3-manifold then ₁(M) is almost convex with respect to a fairly simple geometric generating set. IfG is a central extension or a extension of a word hyperbolic group, thenG is also almost convex with respect to some generating set. Combining these with previously known results shows that ifM is a closed 3-manifold with one of Thurston's eight geometries, ₁(M) is almost convex with respect to some generating set if and only if the geometry in question is not Sol.     

On a theorem of Rhemtulla on polycyclic groups

Let H be a subgroup of the polycyclic-by-finite group G and denote the automorphism group of G by Γ. We prove that there exists an integer d such that in the poset {?_γ∈∑H^γ:∑ a subset of Γ} of all intersections of images H^γ of H under Γ, chains have length at most d. In particular the poset satisfies the minimal condition. This extends and improves a theorem of A.H. Rhemtulla. We also provide a very different proof of Rhemtulla’s theorem.     

On automorphisms of split metacyclic groups

Let D(m, n; k) be the semi-direct product of two finite cyclic groups and , where the action is given by yxy ⁻¹  =  x ^k . In particular, this includes the dihedral groups D _2m . We calculate the automorphism group Aut (D(m, n; k)).     

Coxeter groups are virtually special

In this paper we prove that every finitely generated Coxeter group has a finite index subgroup that is the fundamental group of a special cube complex. Some consequences include: Every f.g. Coxeter group is virtually a subgroup of a right-angled Coxeter group. Every word-hyperbolic Coxeter group has separable quasiconvex subgroups.     

Finite presentation of fibre products of metabelian groups

We show that if Γ is a finitely presented metabelian group, then the “untwisted” fibre product or pull-back P associated to any short exact sequence 1→N→Γ→Q→1 is again finitely presented. In contrast, if N and Q are abelian, then the analogous “twisted” fibre-product is not finitely presented unless Γ is polycyclic. Also a number of examples are constructed, including a non-finitely presented metabelian group P with finitely generated.     

Parabolic subgroups of Garside groups II: Ribbons

We introduce and investigate the ribbon groupoid associated with a Garside group. Under a technical hypothesis, we prove that this category is a Garside groupoid. We decompose this groupoid into a semi-direct product of two of its parabolic subgroupoids and provide a groupoid presentation. In order to establish the latter result, we describe quasi-centralizers in Garside groups. All results hold in the particular case of Artin-Tits groups of spherical type.     

Embedding groups of graph automorphisms in surfaces

Necessary and sufficient conditions (n.a.s.c) are found for a subgroup of the automorphism group of a finite graph to be realizable as the restriction to an invariant spine of some group of homeomorphisms of a compact surface. Also, n.a.s.c. are found for the restricted case when the surface is required to be orientable. The conditions are formulated in terms of the action of stabilizers of vertices on their stars. In both cases, a parametrization of the possible representations is given. Several examples are treated, as well as an application to deciding whether a given finite group of outer automorphisms of a free group is realizable via a surface homeomorphism.