Maximal fitting subclasses of the class of all finite π-groups

Abstract

Call a Fitting class $\mathfrak{F}$ π-maximal if $\mathfrak{F}$ is (inclusion-)maximal in the class $\mathfrak{C}_\pi$ of all finite π-groups, where π stands for a nonempty set of primes. We establish a π-maximality criterion for a Fitting class $\mathfrak{F}$ of finite π-groups: we prove that a nontrivial Fitting class $\mathfrak{F}$ is π-maximal if and only if there is a prime p ∈ π such that, for every π-group G, the index of the $\mathfrak{F}$-radical $G_\mathfrak{F}$ in G is equal to 1 or p. This implies Laue’s familiar result on a necessary and sufficient condition of the maximality of an arbitrary Fitting class of finite groups in the class $\mathfrak{C}$ of all finite groups. The π-maximality criterion obtained also gives a confirmation of the negative solution of Skiba’s Problem asking whether a local Fitting class has no inclusion-maximal Fitting subclasses (see Problem 13.50, The Kourovka Notebook: Unsolved Problems in Group Theory, 14th ed., Sobolev Institute of Mathematics, Novosibirsk, 1999).