Frattini subgroups and supernilpotent groups

In the context of the problem of which nonabelianp-groups can occur as normal subgroups contained in Frattini subgroups, the family of supernilpotent groups (all maximal subgroups characteristic) is investigated. Results of this investigation are applied to the Frattini-embedding problem, incorporating recent work of A. R. Makan. The groups of order 2ⁿ (n ≦ 6) have been examined with respect to supernilpotence and their occurrence as normal subgroups contained in Frattini subgroups. Results of this examination are presented.     

Frattini subgroups ofp-closed andp-supersolvable groups

A nonabelianp-group with cyclic center cannot occur as a normal subgroup contained in the Frattini subgroup of ap-closed group. If a nonabelian normal subgroup of orderp ⁿ and nilpotence classk is contained in the Frattini subgroup of ap-closed group, then its exponent is a divisor ofp ^n−k . This fact is used to derive a relation among the order, number of generators, exponent, and class of the Frattini subgroup, forp-groups. Finally, it is conjectured that a nonabelianp-group having center of orderp cannot occur as a normal subgroup contained in the Frattini subgroup of any finite group. A proof is given forp-supersolvable groups.     

Separable subgroups of mapping class groups

We investigate separability questions for the mapping class group of a surface. While this group is not subgroup separable in general, we prove a large family of interesting subgroups are separable. This includes many classically studied subgroups such as solvable subgroups, Heegaard and Handlebody groups, geometric subgroups, and all the terms in the Johnson filtration.     

Zero entropy subgroups of mapping class groups

Given a group action on a surface with a finite invariant set we investigate how the algebraic properties of the induced group of permutations of that set affects the dynamical properties of the group. Our main result shows that in many circumstances if the induced permutation group is not solvable then among the homeomorphisms in the group there must be one with a pseudo-Anosov component. We formulate this in terms of the mapping class group relative to the finite set and show the stronger result that in many circumstances (e.g. if the surface has boundary) if this mapping class group has no elements with pseudo-Anosov components then it is itself solvable.     

Generalized Frattini subgroups as coradicals of groups

The paper deals with finite solvable groups only. It is established that the class of all regular subgroup m-functors coincides with the class of all X-abnormal m-functors, where X ranges over all subclasses of the class of all primitive groups. The properties of the lattice of all regular subgroup m-functors are studied and the atoms and coatoms of this lattice are described. It is proved that the generalized Frattini subgroup of G corresponding to a regularm-functor coincides with the X-coradical of G for some R ₀-closed class X.     

Commensurability of geometric subgroups of mapping class groups

Let M be an orientable surface with punctures and/or boundary components. Paris and Rolfsen (J Reine Angew Math 521:47–83, 2000) studied “geometric subgroups” of the mapping class group of M, that is subgroups corresponding to inclusions of connected subsurfaces. In the present paper we extend this analysis to disconnected subsurfaces and to the nonorientable case. We characterise the subsurfaces which lead to virtually abelian geometric subgroups. We provide algebraic and geometric conditions under which two geometric subgroups are commensurable. We also describe the commensurator of a geometric subgroup in terms of the stabiliser of the underlying subsurface. Finally, following the work of Paris (Math Ann 322:301–315, 2002), we show some applications of our analysis to the theory of irreducible unitary representations of mapping class groups.     

An action of subgroups of mapping class groups on polynomial algebras

We study a certain subgroup of the mapping class group of a surface with boundary by obtaining an action of this subgroup on a polynomial algebra. This action comes from a lift of the action of the subgroup on a trace algebra, Magnus having done a similar thing for the braid groups. We then investigate the invariant theory for this action and various representations that this action affords. In particular, we obtain finite permutation representations and infinite linear representations of these subgroups that are non-trivial on subgroups of the Torelli group.     

Right-angled Artin groups and a generalized isomorphism problem for finitely generated subgroups of mapping class groups

Consider the mapping class group Mod _g,p of a surface ?? _g,p of genus g with p punctures, and a finite collection {f₁, . . . , f_k} of mapping classes, each of which is either a Dehn twist about a simple closed curve or a pseudo-Anosov homeomorphism supported on a connected subsurface. In this paper we prove that for all sufficiently large N, the mapping classes ${\{f_1^N,\ldots,f_k^N\}}$ generate a right-angled Artin group. The right-angled Artin group which they generate can be determined from the combinatorial topology of the mapping classes themselves. When {f₁, . . . , f_k} are arbitrary mapping classes, we show that sufficiently large powers of these mapping classes generate a group which embeds in a right-angled Artin group in a controlled way. We establish some analogous results for real and complex hyperbolic manifolds. We also discuss the unsolvability of the isomorphism problem for finitely generated subgroups of Mod _g,p , and recover the fact that the isomorphism problem for right-angled Artin groups is solvable. We thus characterize the isomorphism type of many naturally occurring subgroups of Mod _g,p .     

Two-generator Frattini subgroups of finitep-groups

This paper deals with nonabelianp-groupsT (p a prime andp>2) which are either metacyclic or Redei. These groups are classified into those which are Frattini subgroups of a finitep-groupG and those which are not. Finally, it is shown that a nonabelian two-generator group of orderp ⁿ (n>4) which is the Frattini subgroup of ap-group must be metacyclic. This work is contained in the author’s dissertation.     

Finite groups with all subgroups not contained in the Frattini subgroup permutable

Let G be a finite group. A subgroup H of G is a permutable subgroup of G if HK = KH for all subgroups K of G. It will be shown that if all subgroups not contained in the Frattini subgroup are permutable in a group G, then all subgroups are permutable in G.     

Superinjective simplicial maps of complexes of curves and injective homomorphisms of subgroups of mapping class groups

Let S be a closed, connected, orientable surface of genus at least 3, be the complex of curves on S and be the extended mapping class group of S. We prove that a simplicial map, , preserves nondisjointness (i.e. if α and β are two vertices in and i(α,β)≠0, then i(λ(α),λ(β))≠0) iff it is induced by a homeomorphism of S. As a corollary, we prove that if K is a finite index subgroup of and is an injective homomorphism, then f is induced by a homeomorphism of S and f has a unique extension to an automorphism of .     

Superinjective simplicial maps of complexes of curves and injective homomorphisms of subgroups of mapping class groups II

Let R be a compact, connected, orientable surface of genus g with p boundary components. Let C(R) be the complex of curves on R and be the extended mapping class group of R. Suppose that either g=2 and p?2 or g?3 and p?0. We prove that a simplicial map is superinjective if and only if it is induced by a homeomorphism of R. As a corollary, we prove that if K is a finite index subgroup of and is an injective homomorphism, then f is induced by a homeomorphism of R and f has a unique extension to an automorphism of . This extends the author's previous results about closed connected orientable surfaces of genus at least 3, to the surface R.     

Ideal class groups and their subgroups of real quadratic fields

A necessary and sufficient condition is given for the ideal class group H(m) of a real quadratic field Q (√m) to contain a cyclic subgroup of ordern. Some criteria satisfying the condition are also obtained. And eight types of such fields are proved to have this property, e.g. fields withm=(z ⁿ +t−1)²+4t(witht|z ⁿ −1), which contains the well-known fields withm=4z ⁿ +1 andm=4z ²ⁿ +4 as special cases. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.