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Let $G$ be a finite group and $A\leq \operatorname{Aut}(G)$. Assume that $‎P$ is a Sylow $p$-subgroup of $G$ and $z\in Z(P)$ of order $p$ such that each ‎subgroup of order $p$ of $P$ is $A$-conjugate to $\left\langle z\right\rangle‎ ‎$‎. Can we prove that $N_{GA}(P)$ acts transitively on the set of subgroups of order $p$ of $Z(P)$?

Moreover, can we conclude that $P$ is either homocyclic‎ ‎or generalized quaternion or $2$-automorphic $2$-group‎?

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    $\begingroup$ In your question is each subgroup of $G$ of order $p$ $A$-conjugate to $\langle z\rangle,$ or did you mean each subgroup of $P$ or of $Z(P)$? $\endgroup$
    – Tom WIlde
    Commented Aug 25 at 13:14
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    $\begingroup$ @Tom WIlde: each subgroup of $P$ $\endgroup$
    – A.M
    Commented Aug 25 at 17:31
  • $\begingroup$ @Geoff Robinson: Thank you for your comment. Would it be possible for you to explain more about the fusion results of Burnside/Alperin? $\endgroup$
    – A.M
    Commented Aug 25 at 18:59
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    $\begingroup$ Burnside proved that if $X$ is any finite group and $P$ is a Sylow $p$-subgroup of $X$ then two elements of $Z(P)$ are conjugae in $X$ if and only if they are conjugate in $N_{X}(P).$ As Alperin noted, the argument works equally well with subgroups of $Z(P)$. In any case, the direct argument of @TomWilde is better, and my comment becomes irrelevant. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 25 at 19:08
  • $\begingroup$ Hello @TomWIlde, nice to see you here! $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 26 at 9:51

2 Answers 2

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I think the first part is correct as stated, by the Burnside argument. Let $V=\langle z\rangle,$ and let $W$ be a subgroup of order $p$ of $Z(P).$ Since in particular $W\subseteq P,$ there is $a\in A$ such that $V^a=W.$ Then $V$ centralizes $P$ and $P^{a^{-1}},$ so $P$ and $P^{a^{-1}}$ are Sylow $p$-subgroups of $C_G(V).$ Hence there is $b\in C_G(V)$ with $P^{a^{-1}}=P^b.$ That is, $P=P^{ba}.$ Then $ba\in N_{GA}(P)$ and $V^{ba}=V^a=W,$ as required.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks @GeoffRobinson, I think we had the same idea. I've edited my (partial) answer to be slightly more assertive. $\endgroup$
    – Tom WIlde
    Commented Aug 25 at 19:12
  • $\begingroup$ @ Tom WIlde , Thank you for your answer. Do you have any comment for the second part of question? $\endgroup$
    – A.M
    Commented Aug 25 at 19:53
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Without further conditions, the answer to the second part of the question is "no" in general. For example, we may take $G = A =Th$ (the sporadic simple group of Thompson) and $p=5$, $P$ a Sylow $p$-subgroup of $G$. Then all subgroups of order $5$ in $P$ are conjugate in $G$ to $Z(P)$, but $P$ is extraspecial of order $125.$

Later edit: Thanks to @TomWilde for the correct definition of $2$-automorphic $2$-group. In the case $p=2$, we can take $G=A$ to be any simple group whose Sylow $2$-subgroup $P$ is dihedral (but not Klein 4). Then all involutions of $G$ are conjugate, but the automorphism group of $P$ is a $2$-group acting trivially on $Z(P)$, so is certainly not transitive on involutions of $P$. Also, $P$ is neither homocyclic nor generalized quaternion.

Even later edit: If the Sylow $p$-subgroup $P$ of $G$ is Abelian, and $A$ has order coprime to $p$, then it is true that $P$ is homocyclic under the hypotheses of the question, because in that case, a Hall $p^{\prime}$-subgroup of $N_{GA}(P)$ acts transitively on subgroups of order $p$ of $P$, so must be acting indecomposably on $P$.

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    $\begingroup$ I think perhaps a 2-automorphic 2-group is a 2-group whose automorphism group is transitive on its involutions, as defined in a paper of Fletcher Gross (zbmath.org/0341.20015). This does not affect your conclusion about the second part of the question, of course. $\endgroup$
    – Tom WIlde
    Commented Aug 25 at 23:46
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    $\begingroup$ @TomWIlde : Thanks, but it does affect the Suzuki group examples, since the Sylow $2$ - normalizer acts transitively on involutions in these groups. But for $p=2$, according to your definition, any simple group with a dihedral (not Klein 4) Sylow $2$- subgroup will be a counterexample, since such groups have a single conjugacy class of involutions, but not all involutions are conjugate in the Sylow $2$-normalizer. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 25 at 23:59
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    $\begingroup$ @Geoff Robinson : Thank you very much for your helpful comments. $\endgroup$
    – A.M
    Commented Aug 26 at 12:10

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