Normal automorphisms of a free pro-p-group in the varietyN 2 A

An automorphism of a (profinite) group is called normal if each (closed) normal subgroup is left invariant by it. An automorphism of an abstract group is p-normal if each normal subgroup of p-power, where p is prime, is left invariant. Obviously, the inner automorphism of a group will be normal and p-normal. For some groups, the converse was stated to be likewise true. N. Romanovskii and V. Boluts, for instance, established that for free solvable pro-p-groups of derived length 2, there exist normal automorphisms that are not inner. Let N₂ be the variety of nilpotent groups of class 2 and A the variety of Abelian groups. We prove the following results: (1) If p is a prime number distinct from 2, then the normal automorphism of a free pro-p-group of rank ≥2 in N₂A is inner (Theorem 1); (2) If p is a prime number distinct from 2, then the p-normal automorphism of an abstract free N₂A-group of rank ≥2 is inner (Theorem 2). Supported by RFFR grant No. 93-01-01508. Translated fromAlgebra i Logika, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 249–267, May–June, 1996.