For the definitions, please see the relevant pages, accessible through my research page.

Capability of groups

• A generalization of Baer's Theorem: Let k be a positive integer, and let C_1,...,C_r be cyclic p-groups, p a prime with p>k, listed in ascending order of size. If G is the k-nilpotent product of the C_i, then G is capable if and only if r>1 and the orders of the last two cyclic groups are equal.
• A necessary condition: Let G be a p-group of class k>0, and let x_1,...,x_r be a minimal generating set. Let the order of x_i be p^{a_i}, with a_1<=...<= a_r. If G is capable, then r>1 and a_r<=a_{r-1} + floor((k-1)/(p-1)).
• The condition above is sufficient when G is the k-nilpotent product of the cyclic groups generated by the x_i, and p<= k. The inequality is best possible: for every k and p there is a capable example where we have equality.
• In the case of capable groups of class 2 and exponent p, with p an odd prime, I have proven that given a group G, the capability of G is equivalent to an explicit question about linear transformations between two finite dimensional vector spaces, and thus may be explicitly checked. Using this equivalence, I have obtained a number of necessary and of sufficient conditions for capability of G.
• A 5-generated p-group of class two and prime exponent is one and only one if nontrivial cyclic; a direct product amalgamating a cyclic subgroup of the commutators groups; or capable.
• A characterization of the capable 2-generated p-groups of class two.

Dominions and amalgams in varieties of nilpotent groups

• A complete description of dominions in any variety all of whose elements are nilpotent groups of class at most 2. This appears in Amalgams of nilpotent groups of class 2, Journal of Algebra 274 (2004) pp. 1-63.
• There are nontrivial dominions in the variety of all nilpotent groups of class at most k for any k>1, and in the class of all nilpotent groups. Examples can be found in Dominions in varieties of nilpotent groups, Comm. Alg. 28 (2000) no. 3, pp. 1241-1270.
• A description of the absolutely closed nilpotent groups relative to any variety all of whose elements are nilpotent groups of class two. Again, this occurs in Amalgams of nilpotent groups of class two, Journal of Algebra 274 (2004) pp. 1-63.
• A complete characterisation of the weakly and strongly embeddable amalgams in any variety of nilpotent groups of class two, as well as a characterisation of the weak, strong, and special amalgamation bases and related results. Again, in Amalgams of nilpotent groups of class two.

Dominions in the variety of metabelian groups

• There are nontrivial dominions in the variety of metabelian groups. In fact, there is a finitely generated group G, and a subgroup H of G, which is abelian of finite rank, such that the dominion of H in G is abelian of infinite rank. The example can be found in Dominions in varieties of nilpotent groups, Comm. Alg. 28 (2000) no. 3, pp. 1241-1270.
• There are nontrivial dominions in the variety of all groups which are extensions of an abelian group of exponent n by an abelian group of exponent m (unpublished).

Dominions in varieties generated by simple groups

• By generalizing an argument of B.H. Neumann, we fully characterize the dominions of subgroups of a finite nonabelian simple group S, in the variety generated by S. This characterization is used to provide many examples of varieties of groups with nonsurjective epimorphisms. They can be found in Dominions in varieties generated by simple groups, Alg. Universalis 48 (2002) pp. 133-143.

Behavior of dominions under varietal multiplication

• If N is a nontrivial variety which has instances of nontrivial dominions, and Q is any variety other than the variety of all groups, then the varietal product NQ also has nontrivial dominions.
• The converse of this is false, as witnessed by the fact, mentioned above, that the variety of metabelian groups, which is the product of the variety of abelian groups with itself, has nontrivial dominions, even though all dominions in the variety of abelian groups are trivial.
• In consequence, the variety of all solvable groups of length at most k has nontrivial dominions, as does any product of abelian varieties with at least two factors.
• We give a lower and upper bound on the dominion of a subgroup H of a group G in the product variety NQ, in terms of the laws of Q, the dominions in N, and the internal structure of G. Under mild extra conditions on G, we can describe the dominion exactly.
• All of the above results can be found in Dominions in decomposable varieties, Alg. Unversalis 43 no. 2-3 (2000), pp. 217-232.

Nonsurjective epimorphisms

• If a varietal product NQ has nonsurjective epimorphisms, then so does N.
• In fact, the subgroup H is epimorphically embedded into G in the variety NQ if and only if for every normal subgroup M of G such that M is in N and G/M is in Q, the intersection of H and M is epimorphically embedded into M (in the variety N) and HM=G.
• If H is epimorphically embedded into a finite nonabelian simple group G in the variety N, and Q is any variety other than the variety of all groups, then NQ also has nonsurjective epimorphisms.
• If H is epimorphically embedded into a finite group G in the variety N, and Q is a finite varietal product of nilpotent varieties, each of which contains the infinte cyclic group, then NQ has instances of nonsurjective epimorphisms.
• The above results may be found in Nonsurjective epimorphisms in decomposable varieties, Alg. Universalis 48 (2002) pp. 145-150.