# Non-finitely generated groups with $|\text{Aut}(G)| = p$

It is a fun exercise to prove that if $G$ is finitely generated, and $|\text{Aut}(G)| = p$ for some prime $p$, then $G$ is one of $\Bbb Z_3, \Bbb Z_6, \Bbb Z$, or $\Bbb Z \times \Bbb Z_2$. The finitely generated is essential (at least, in my proof), since the very end reduces to doing casework with the structure theorem on finitely generated abelian groups. But what about the more general case?

Are there any non-finitely generated groups $G$ with $|\text{Aut}(G)| = p$?

Some immediate comments: $G$ must still be abelian (because $\text{Inn}(G)$ is cyclic iff trivial); $p$ must be 2 (because being abelian means implies $a \mapsto a^{-1}$ is an automorphism, and this map is an involution, so $2\mid p$); and $G$ must be either indecomposable or an indecomposable times $\Bbb Z_2$ (because if $G = A \times B$, then $\text{Aut}(G) \times \text{Aut}(G)$ is a subgroup of $\text{Aut}(G)$; and the only groups with trivial automorphism group are the trivial group and $\Bbb Z_2$; and you can only stick one copy of $\Bbb Z_2$ in there, since otherwise there's an extra automorphism given by swapping two copies of $\Bbb Z_2$). But that's all I know.

• This is relevant. Take the cross-product of the group there with one of the two you point out. – user1729 Jul 2 '14 at 6:30
• The group of rational numbers with square-free denominator has automorphism group of order $2$. I can't readily think of an example for an odd prime $p$, though. – James Jul 2 '14 at 6:53
• @James: I think that is a pretty example. Please consider undeleting it as an answer. You may want to add a bit more detail, but I enjoyed validating it as it is :-) – Jyrki Lahtonen Jul 2 '14 at 6:59
• @James I agree with Jyrki! – user98602 Jul 2 '14 at 7:01
• I think the claim of your first sentence is false. Clearly the infinite cyclic group $\mathbb{Z}$ is finitely generated, and $\operatorname{Aut}(\mathbb{Z})$ has order $2$. – spin Jul 2 '14 at 10:25

The group of rational numbers with square-free denominator has automorphism group of order $2$. (EDIT: As noted in the comments, there there aren't examples for odd $p$.)
• There is no example for odd prime $p$. If $|Aut(G)|$ is prime, then $Inn(G) \cong G/Z(G)$ is cyclic, so $G$ must be abelian. Now if $G$ has elements of odd order $> 1$, then $g \mapsto g^{-1}$ is a nontrivial automorphism of order $2$, hence $|Aut(G)| = 2$. If $g^2 = 1$ for all $g$, then $G$ is elementary abelian and $|Aut(G)|$ is not prime. – spin Jul 2 '14 at 10:28