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Suppose $1\to X\to \mathcal{G}\to \Gamma \to 1$ is an exact sequence of pro-p groups, with $X$ abelian and $\Gamma \cong {\mathbb{Z}}_p$. Conjugation gives $X$ a compact Galois module structure. The closed commutator subgroup is $(\gamma -1)X$: its image is closed by compactness, and after quotienting by it, a lift of $\gamma$ centralizes $X$ and topologically generates the remaining quotient. Hence $0\to X_{\Gamma }\to {\mathcal{G}}^{\mathrm{ab}}\to \Gamma \to 0$ is exact.

The Baker--Campbell--Hausdorff formula converges integrally on a powerful Lie lattice. A degree-$m$ Lie term has bracket divisibility $p^{ϵ(m-1)}$; the standard integral coefficient bound loses at most $\lfloor (m-1)/(p-1)\rfloor$ powers of $p$. The remaining valuation tends to infinity. Associativity follows from the formal exponential identity, the identity is zero, the inverse is $-x$, and $x^{\ast n}=nx$. The resulting pro-p group is a uniform pro-p group, with power subgroups $p^{n}L$.

If a nilpotent group is generated by $a_1,\dots ,a_d$, every element of its commutator subgroup is a product $[x_1,a_1]\cdots [x_d,a_d]$. The sets in the displayed formula need not be subgroups. Induct on the nilpotency class $c$. Collection in $G/{\gamma }_c(G)$ gives the desired product with a central error. Since ${\gamma }_c(G)=[{\gamma }_{c-1}(G),G]$, that error is a product $[y_1,a_1]\cdots [y_d,a_d]$ with $y_i\in {\gamma }_{c-1}(G)$. These factors are central, and ${\gamma }_{c-1}(G)$ centralizes $G\prime$, so replacing $x_i$ by $x_i{y}_i$ absorbs the error. For a finitely generated pro-p group, applying this formula in all finite quotients and using compactness makes its algebraically generated commutator subgroup closed.

A compact Galois module is a compact profinite abelian group equipped with a continuous Galois group action. An abelian pro-p group is naturally a compact ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$-module. A continuous action of the Galois group of a Zp-extension extends to its Iwasawa algebra of a Zp-extension. This compact topology differs from the discrete topology usually used in Galois cohomology.

Suppose $K$ is an open normal subgroup of a pro-p group $G$ and has a finite pro-p presentation. Choose lifts of generators of the finite quotient $G/K$. Add finitely many relators giving their conjugation and inverse conjugation on the generators of $K$, and replace each quotient relator by its value in $K$. The resulting finite finite pro-p presentation maps onto $G$. Its closed subgroup generated by the kernel generators is isomorphic to $K$, and its quotient by that subgroup is exactly $G/K$, so the map is also injective.

A finite generating set and finitely many relators in a free pro-p group, divided out by their closed normal closure. Relators are elements of the free pro-p group; they need not be finite ordinary words. A pro-p group with such a presentation is finitely presented in the pro-$p$ category.

If a nilpotent group is generated by $a_1,\dots ,a_d$, every element of its commutator subgroup is a product $[x_1,a_1]\cdots [x_d,a_d]$. The sets in the displayed formula need not be subgroups. Induct on the nilpotency class $c$. Collection in $G/{\gamma }_c(G)$ gives the desired product with a central error. Since ${\gamma }_c(G)=[{\gamma }_{c-1}(G),G]$, that error is a product $[y_1,a_1]\cdots [y_d,a_d]$ with $y_i\in {\gamma }_{c-1}(G)$. These factors are central, and ${\gamma }_{c-1}(G)$ centralizes $G\prime$, so replacing $x_i$ by $x_i{y}_i$ absorbs the error. For a finitely generated pro-p group, applying this formula in all finite quotients and using compactness makes its algebraically generated commutator subgroup closed.

For finite $X$, this is the pro-p completion of the free group on $X$. Every function from $X$ to a pro-p group extends uniquely to a continuous group homomorphism. More generally one can require a basis tending to the identity and impose the universal property for maps with that convergence condition; alternatively the pro-$p$ completion of the abstract free group represents unrestricted maps from an arbitrary set. These infinite-rank conventions should not be conflated when interpreting generator cardinalities.

For a finitely generated pro-p group, its profinite Frattini subgroup has finite elementary abelian quotient. Continuous group homomorphisms to ${\mathbb{F}}_p$ are precisely the linear functionals on this quotient. The topological generation criterion identifies a minimal generating set with a basis, giving the displayed equality. Finite generation is essential when generator number means the least cardinality of an unrestricted dense generating family.

If a pro-$p$ presentation on $d$ generators and possibly infinitely many relators $r_i$ satisfieswith the sum convergent and $D$ the Magnus degree of a free pro-p group element, then the presented pro-p group is infinite. The Golod-Shafarevich inequality forces its completed group algebra to be infinite-dimensional, which would be impossible for a finite group. This formulation applies to relators whose degrees tend to infinity and is suitable for enumerated power-relation constructions.

The displayed descending filtration combines powers and group commutators. In a pro-p group, take the closure of the generated product at each step. For a powerful p-group these layers are $P_i(G)=G^{p^{i-1}}$, with iterated closed power subgroups in the infinite case. The successive quotients are elementary abelian p-groups.

Over $k={\mathbb{F}}_p$, the Nottingham group is $\mathcal{N}(k)=\{f(t)=t+{\sum }_{i\ge 2}{a}_i{t}^i:a_i\in k\}$ with composition and the $t$-adic topology. Equivalently it is the group of continuous $k$-automorphisms of the Laurent series field $k((t))$ that act trivially on $(t)/(t^2)$. With ordinary series composition, the isomorphism sends $f$ to the automorphism $h(t)\mapsto h(f^{-1}(t))$; this inverse avoids reversing the group product. It is a pro-p group, recovered from its finite truncations, and contains elements of arbitrarily large finite $p$-power order.

An inverse system of topological spaces over a directed set $I$ consists of spaces $X_i$ and continuous maps $f_{ij}:X_j\to X_i$ for $i\le j$, with $f_{ii}=1$ and $f_{ik}=f_{ij}{f}_{jk}$. Its inverse limit is a space $X$ with compatible continuous projections ${\pi }_i$ such that every compatible family of continuous maps $u_i:Y\to X_i$ factors uniquely through a continuous map $u:Y\to X$. To construct it, takewith the subspace topology inherited from the product topology. The map $u(y)=(u_i(y))$ has values in $X$ and is continuous by the definition of the product topology; its coordinates force uniqueness. If $X^{\prime }$ is another inverse limit, the two universal properties give continuous maps $X\to X^{\prime }$ and $X^{\prime }\to X$ whose composites have all the same projections as the identity. Uniqueness makes these composites the identity. The inverse limit exists and is unique up to a unique projection-preserving homeomorphism. An arbitrary inverse limit may be empty; nonemptiness requires additional hypotheses.

Use the usual Hausdorff convention for a topological group. An inverse limit of finite discrete groups is a closed subgroup of their product: each compatibility condition is closed because the finite factors are Hausdorff spaces. The Tychonoff theorem gives compactness, and distinct tuples are separated by a clopen coordinate cylinder, so the limit is totally disconnected. Coordinatewise multiplication and inversion are continuous, giving a profinite group.

Conversely, let $G$ be a compact Hausdorff space and a totally disconnected topological group. We use the standard topological fact that a compact Hausdorff space that is totally disconnected has a basis of clopen sets. Given an identity neighbourhood, choose a clopen identity neighbourhood $U$ inside it. Compactness of $U$ and continuity of multiplication give a symmetric identity neighbourhood $V$ with $VU\subseteq U$: cover $U$ by finitely many neighbourhoods on which multiplication by a sufficiently small identity neighbourhood stays inside $U$, then intersect those identity neighbourhoods. Symmetry gives $vU=U$ for $v\in V$. Consequently $H=\{g:gU=U\}$ is a subgroup containing $V$, hence an open subgroup, and $H\subseteq U$ since $1\in U$. Its open cosets cover the compact group, so there are finitely many. The normal core $N={\bigcap }_{g\in G}gH{g}^{-1}$ is a finite intersection of open subgroups, hence an open normal subgroup contained in $U$. Thus the open normal subgroups form an identity-neighbourhood basis and have trivial intersection.

The canonical group homomorphism $G\to {\underleftarrow{\lim }}_{N}G/N$ is continuous and injective. For a compatible tuple of quotient elements, its inverse-image cosets in $G$ are closed and have the finite intersection property: a finite family is refined by the quotient for the intersection of its normal subgroups. Compactness gives an element in all those cosets, proving surjectivity. A continuous bijection from a compact space to a Hausdorff space is a homeomorphism. The compact totally disconnected and inverse-limit definitions of a profinite group agree.

Index the finite nonempty sets $\mathcal{P}(N)$ by open normal subgroups, with the transition from $M$ to $N$ when $M\subseteq N$ given by image under $G/M\to G/N$. Images of Sylow subgroups under surjections of finite groups are Sylow subgroups. These transitions are surjective: if $S\le G/N$ is a Sylow subgroup, choose a Sylow subgroup in its full inverse image in $G/M$. It maps onto $S$, and its order has the full $p$-part of $|G/M|$, so it is a Sylow subgroup of $G/M$ too. The transitions respect composition, giving an inverse system of finite sets.

Its inverse limit is nonempty. Indeed, finitely many compatibility conditions can be satisfied by choosing one Sylow subgroup in a quotient refining all the involved quotients and taking its images; compactness of the product of the finite sets then gives a compatible family $(P_N{)}_N$. DefineThis is a closed subgroup of $G$. Its image in $G/N$ is exactly $P_N$: for a prescribed $s\in P_N$, each finite collection of conditions defining $P$ together with ${\pi }_N(g)=s$ is satisfiable in a common refining quotient, because the transitions on the chosen Sylow subgroups are surjective. The finite intersection property again supplies $g\in P$. Hence $P\cong {\underleftarrow{\lim }}_N{P}_N$ is a pro-p group and $PN/N=P_N$ for every $N$.

Finally, if a pro-p subgroup $Q$ contains $P$, its image in every finite quotient is a p-group containing the Sylow subgroup $P_N$, so that image equals $P_N$. Thus every $q\in Q$ belongs to every ${\pi }_N^{-1}(P_N)$, whence $Q\subseteq P$. The constructed $P$ is a maximal pro-p subgroup.

A topological group is a group with a topology for which $(x,y)\mapsto xy$ and $x\mapsto x^{-1}$ are continuous; we use the Hausdorff convention. Translations and inversion are then homeomorphisms.

For the final generator-extraction assertion, use the profinite Frattini subgroupFor a finitely generated pro-p group, the Burnside basis theorem says that $G/\Phi (G)$ is a finite-dimensional vector space over ${\mathbb{F}}_p$ and a subset topologically generates $G$ precisely when its image spans that vector space. In particular its dimension is the minimal number $d(G)$ of topological generators. A given $d$-element generating set shows $d(G)\le d$. The image of any other generating set spans the same finite-dimensional vector space, so it contains a basis of $d(G)$ elements. Choose their preimages in that generating set and apply the Burnside basis theorem again. Every generating set contains a generating subset of size $d(G)\le d$. This argument also applies to an infinite generating set.

Put $U_0=G$ and $U_{j+1}=U_j^p$, where powers mean closed generated subgroups. The finite-quotient arguments of Question 3 pass to a powerful pro-p group: in particular $U_j$ is powerfully embedded, the power map is onto $U_{j+1}$, andFor the root assertion, apply the finite result to every finite quotient and use the finite intersection property on the closed sets of possible roots in the compact group. Each $U_j$ is finitely generated by the appropriate powers of a finite generating tuple, and $U_j/U_{j+1}$ is finite and elementary abelian. Thus the $U_j$ are open. They form an identity-neighbourhood basis: in any finite continuous quotient their images form a terminating lower p-series, so some $U_j$ is contained in the kernel. In particular ${\bigcap }_j{U}_j=1$. Collection also givesOne can see the extra index directly by induction from $[U_a,G]\subseteq U_{a+1}$: collect $[v,w^p]$ for $w\in U_b$. Its leading factor $[v,w{]}^p$ advances one layer, and the remaining iterated commutators, with their binomial coefficients, lie at least as deep. Products and limits preserve the inclusion. This is the usual strongly central property of the lower p-series.

A uniform pro-p group is a finitely generated powerful pro-p group for which all the indices $|U_j:U_{j+1}|$ equal $|G:G^p|$. The preliminary congruence gives surjective linear mapsIf $G$ is uniform, these maps are bijective. If $x\ne y$, write $y=xu$ and choose the unique layer $j$ with $u\in U_j\setminus U_{j+1}$. Bijectivity of ${\theta }_j$ and the power congruence imply $y^p(x^p{)}^{-1}\in U_{j+1}\setminus U_{j+2}$, so $x^p\ne y^p$. Thus the power map is injective. A finite-order element of a pro-p group has $p$-power order; repeated injectivity of the power map excludes every nonidentity such element. Hence a uniform group is a torsion-free group.

Conversely, suppose some ${\theta }_j$ has a nonzero kernel. Choose $x\in U_j\setminus U_{j+1}$ with $x^p\in U_{j+2}$. At step $r\ge j+1$, if the current $x_r$ satisfies $x_r^p\in U_{r+1}$, surjectivity of ${\theta }_r$ supplies $u_r\in U_r$ withSet $x_{r+1}=x_r{u}_r$. The power congruence gives $x_{r+1}^p\in U_{r+2}$. Since the corrections tend to $1$ in the complete profinite group, the $x_r$ converge to $z$, with $z^p=1$ and $z\equiv x(\mathrm{mod}{U}_{j+1})$. In particular $z\ne 1$. A torsion-free group cannot have such an element, so every ${\theta }_j$ is injective and all layer indices are equal. This proves the root correction criterion for uniformity andFor a uniform group the power maps are continuous bijections $U_j\to U_{j+1}$, hence homeomorphisms. Their inverses define the unique roots used below. Comparison at the first differing layer also proves the power congruences in a uniform pro-p group:

The intrinsic Lie algebra of a uniform pro-p group has the same underlying set as $G$, zero equal to the group identity, and operationsHere $x^{\lambda }$ is the limit of integral powers approaching $\lambda$. The first root is taken in $U_n$ and the second in $U_{2n}$; the commutator actually lies in $U_{2n+1}$. The following faithful algebra realization verifies convergence and the Lie algebra axioms, rather than assuming them as part of the definition.

Choose a minimal tuple $a_1,\dots ,a_d$ of topological generators. The layer isomorphisms ${\theta }_j$ show that the images of $a_i^{p^j}$ are bases of $U_j/U_{j+1}$. The ordered-coordinate argument of Question 3 therefore gives a continuous bijectionExistence follows by successive digits and compactness; uniqueness follows by the first digit at which the coordinates differ, because its images are linearly independent in the corresponding power layer. Thus this map is a homeomorphism.

Here are details of the norm needed on the group algebra. In ${\mathbb{Z}}_p[[G]]$ put $b_i=a_i-1$. Its elements have unique ordered expansions ${\sum }_{\alpha }{c}_{\alpha }{b}_1^{{\alpha }_1}\cdots b_d^{{\alpha }_d}$ with $c_{\alpha }\in {\mathbb{Z}}_p$. To verify this description, identify the ordered coordinates of $G$ with ${\mathbb{Z}}_p^d$. Elements of the completed group algebra are integral measures on this space; their values on the binomial polynomials ${\prod }_i\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{{\lambda }_i}{{\alpha }_i}\right)$ are precisely the coefficients $c_{\alpha }$. The finite-difference identity pairs the ordered monomial $b^{\beta }$ with this binomial polynomial as ${\delta }_{\alpha \beta }$. The Mahler expansion of a continuous function therefore proves both existence and uniqueness of the measure with the specified coefficients. This also proves that the ordinary rational group algebra embeds in these expansions.

Choose $1/(p-1)<s<1$ and setThis defines the weighted group algebra of a uniform pro-p group. Its multiplication is submultiplicative in the valuation convention, $v(AB)\ge v(A)+v(B)$. Indeed, $a_i^p-1=p{b}_i+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{p}{2}\right)b_i^2+\cdots +b_i^p$ has valuation $1+s$; collection of ordered coordinates gives the same lower bound for $g-1$ when $g\in U_1$. Interchanging two adjacent $b_i$ in a product introduces a correction coming from $[a_i,a_j]-1$, of valuation at least $1+s>2s$. Iterating the interchange rule never lowers the total weight; the corrections have strictly increasing weight, so infinite collection converges. The same argument with $p^j$-th powers showsThe equality follows from the first nonzero coordinate digit: its leading terms are $p^j{\lambda }_i^{\prime }{b}_i$, at least one with unit ${\lambda }_i^{\prime }$, and cannot cancel in the ordered expansion. Completing the rational group algebra in this norm produces a complete normed algebra $A$ in which $G$ embeds faithfully and with its original topology.

Since $v(g-1)\ge s>1/(p-1)$, the seriesconverge on the relevant balls in $A$ and are inverse there. Their convergence follows from $v_p(r!)\le (r-1)/(p-1)$ and $v_p(r)\le (r-1)/(p-1)$; formal one-variable identities prove that they are inverse. Put $X=\log x$ and $Y=\log y$. The Baker--Campbell--Hausdorff formula in $A$ now givesbecause every term of degree at least two tends to zero after this rescaling. Similarly expansion of $\exp (-p^{n}X)\exp (-p^{n}Y)\exp (p^{n}X)\exp (p^{n}Y)$ givesThe leading term is the indicated associative-algebra commutator and all terms of degree at least three tend to zero. These expressions are the logarithms of the unique roots in the intrinsic formulas. The image $\log G$ is compact and hence closed in $A$, so both limits belong to $\log G$, and the inverse logarithm takes the limits back to $G$. Also $\log (x^{\lambda })=\lambda \log x$. Consequently $\log$ identifies the intrinsic operations with addition, scalar multiplication and commutation in $A$. The Jacobi identity follows by expanding the associative products; thus $L_G$ is indeed a Lie algebra over ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$.

The commutator roots in the intrinsic formula belong to $U_1$, so their limit gives $[L_G,L_G]\subseteq \log U_1=p{L}_G$. Iterating the power congruence gives $x^{p^n}{y}^{p^n}\equiv (xy{)}^{p^n}(\mathrm{mod}{U}_{n+1})$. Taking the unique roots shows that intrinsic addition modulo $U_1$ is the original group product modulo $U_1$. Consequently $L_G/p{L}_G$ is the original elementary abelian quotient $G/U_1$, and the images of the $a_i$ form a basis. Successively removing digits expresses every element uniquely as an additive sum ${\sum }_i{\lambda }_i{a}_i$: existence uses completeness, while a nonzero relation would have a first nonzero digit contradicting the basis in $U_j/U_{j+1}$. Hence $L_G$ is a free module of rank $d$ over the p-adic integers and is a powerful Lie lattice.

Conversely a powerful Lie algebra over p-adic integers, for odd $p$, is a finite free ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$-module $L$ with a bilinear alternating Lie bracket satisfying the Jacobi identity and $[L,L]\subseteq pL$. DefineFor completeness, integrality and convergence can be verified without guessing which individual denominators are units. In ${\mathbb{Q}}_p\otimes L$ set $M=p^{-1}L$. Then $[M,M]\subseteq M$, so its integral universal enveloping algebra has an ordered basis by the Poincaré-Birkhoff-Witt theorem. Its coefficientwise $p$-adic norm is submultiplicative, and $L=pM$ consists of elements of valuation at least one. The homogeneous degree-$r$ terms in $\log (\exp X\exp Y)$ have coefficients of valuation at least $-\lfloor (r-1)/(p-1)\rfloor$: expand the logarithm, use $v_p(k!)\le (k-1)/(p-1)$ on each nonconstant exponential factor, and $v_p(\ell )\le (\ell -1)/(p-1)$ on a product of $\ell$ such factors. Therefore evaluating degree $r$ on $X,Y\in pM$ gives valuation at leastwhich tends to infinity and is at least two when $r\ge 2$. Each homogeneous term is a rational Lie polynomial by the formal Baker--Campbell--Hausdorff formula. The ordered enveloping-algebra basis shows that its intersection with ${\mathbb{Q}}_{p}M$ is exactly $M$, so the estimate places the sum in $L$, with the non-linear part in $pL$.

Associativity follows from the identity $\exp (X\ast Y)=\exp X\exp Y$ in the completed universal enveloping algebra. Its identity is $0$, its inverse is $-X$, and $X^{\ast m}=mX$, since the bracket of $X$ with itself is zero. The same coefficient estimate for the group commutator puts it in $pL$. Conjugation in the BCH group is $\exp (\mathrm{ad}X)$; each term $\mathrm{ad}(X{)}^r/r!$ preserves $p^{j}L$, because each bracket adds a factor of $p$ and $v_p(r!)<r$. Thus the submodules $p^{j}L$ are normal subgroups for $\ast$, their intersection is zero, and their finite quotients have $p$-power order. Thus $(L,\ast )$ is a powerful pro-p group, withA module basis topologically generates this group: it generates the quotient $L/pL$, and successive power digits lift that generation through all $p^{j}L$. The BCH construction therefore gives a uniform pro-p group.

A topological group is a group with a topology for which multiplication $G\times G\to G$ and inversion $G\to G$ are continuous. A profinite group has either of the following equivalent descriptions: a compact Hausdorff totally disconnected topological group, or an inverse limit of finite discrete groups. Totally disconnected means that every connected component is a singleton.

For clarity, an inverse system over a directed set $I$ consists of groups $G_i$ and maps ${\varphi }_{ij}:G_j\to G_i$ for $i\le j$, with ${\varphi }_{ii}=1$ and ${\varphi }_{ik}={\varphi }_{ij}{\varphi }_{jk}$. Its inverse limit iswith coordinatewise multiplication and the subspace topology. Equivalently, it is a group with compatible continuous projections such that every other compatible family of maps into the $G_i$ factors uniquely through it.

The displayed limit is a closed subgroup of the compact Hausdorff product of the finite groups, and is totally disconnected, since two different tuples are separated by a clopen coordinate condition. Conversely a compact Hausdorff totally disconnected group has a neighbourhood basis of open normal subgroups. One way to see the group part of this standard clopen-basis fact is to choose a clopen identity neighbourhood $U$ inside a prescribed neighbourhood. Compactness of $U$ and continuity give a symmetric identity neighbourhood $V$ with $VU\subseteq U$. The stabilizer $H=\{g:gU=U\}$ contains $V$, is open, and is contained in $U$ because $1\in U$. Its index is finite by part (ii); its normal core is the intersection of finitely many conjugates and is open and normal. The canonical mapis injective because these $N$ separate points, and surjective because compatible cosets have the finite intersection property and $G$ is compact. It is a homeomorphism by compactness and the Hausdorff property. This explains the equivalence of the two definitions.

The profinite Frattini subgroup is $\Phi (G)=\bigcap M$, where $M$ ranges over all maximal proper open subgroups; for the trivial group the empty intersection is $G$. For a pro-p group,Here powers and group commutators mean generated subgroups and the bar supplies closure. Every maximal open subgroup in a pro-p group is normal of index $p$, as follows by passing to the finite p-group quotient by its normal core. Such a subgroup therefore contains all powers and group commutators. Conversely the quotient by $D=\overline{G^p[G,G]}$ is an abelian pro-p group of exponent $p$. If an element of this quotient is nontrivial, some finite elementary abelian quotient detects it; a linear functional to ${\mathbb{F}}_p$ then detects it as well. Its group homomorphism kernel pulls back to a maximal open subgroup of $G$. Thus the intersection of these kernels is exactly $D$.

We also use the topological generation criterion: a subset generates $G$ topologically if and only if its image generates $G/\Phi (G)$ topologically. To prove the nontrivial direction, a proper closed generated subgroup $K$ lies in a proper open subgroup $KN$ for a suitably small open normal $N$, and hence in a maximal open subgroup obtained from the finite quotient $G/N$. Since that maximal subgroup contains $\Phi (G)$, the image of $K$ cannot generate the Frattini quotient.

Now suppose $G$ is a nontrivial procyclic pro-p group. If it had distinct maximal open subgroups $M_1,M_2$, the homomorphism to $C_p\times C_p$ induced by the two quotient maps would be onto: its projections are onto, and a proper such subgroup would be a one-dimensional graph, forcing the two kernels to coincide. Hence $G/(M_1\cap M_2)\cong C_p^2$, contradicting procyclicity. Thus there is exactly one maximal open subgroup $M$, and $\Phi (G)=M$. Any $g\notin M$ generates $G/\Phi (G)\cong C_p$, so the criterion givesFor the trivial group use its identity as generator. The additive group ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$ is an infinite example, topologically generated by $1$: its finite continuous quotients are cyclic $\mathbb{Z}/p^n\mathbb{Z}$.

For a pro-p group, the lower p-series is the descending sequence of closed characteristic subgroupsThe bar means closure of the subgroup generated by the displayed powers and group commutators. Throughout this question $p$ is odd. For a finitely generated powerful pro-p group, group commutator collection gives $P_i(G)=G^{p^{i-1}}$, each $P_i$ is powerful, and $\Phi (P_i)=P_{i+1}$. All these subgroups are open. A uniform pro-p group is such a group with all subgroup indices $[P_i:P_{i+1}]$ equal to $[G:P_2]$. We use the standard powerful-group torsion criterion: a finitely generated powerful pro-p group is uniform exactly when it is a torsion-free group. For a uniform group of generator number $d$, the indices are $p^d$, and $x\mapsto x^{p^a}$ is a homeomorphism from $G$ onto $G^{p^a}$.

We record explicitly the collection facts used for the operations below. With $U_b=G^{p^b}=P_{b+1}$, one hasThe second statement is the power-congruence property: the $p$th-power map is an isomorphism on adjacent uniform layers, and collection gives $(yu{)}^p\equiv y^p{u}^p(\mathrm{mod}{U}_{b+2})$ for $u\in U_b$. Thus the first nonzero layer of a difference moves down exactly one step under a $p$th power. Iterating gives the asserted equivalence and also justifies taking roots of congruences. These facts follow from powerful-group group commutator collection, using divisibility by $p$ of $\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{p}{2}\right)$ and the successive-layer power isomorphisms; they are the uniform-group structure results being used here.

The transported addition on a uniform pro-p group isThe product is in $U_n$ and has a unique $p^n$th root in $G$. For the comparison at $n=1$ define $x{+}_{0}y=xy$. The numbered proofs below establish associativity, approximate commutativity and compatibility of these operations.

The intrinsic Lie algebra of a uniform pro-p group has underlying set $G$, zero equal to the group identity, additive inverse $x^{-1}$, and operationsHere the group commutator is $[x,y]=x^{-1}{y}^{-1}xy$. For $\lambda \in {\mathbb{Z}}_p$, $x^{\lambda }$ is the limit of $x^{m_j}$ for integers $m_j\to \lambda$; the pro-$p$ topology makes it well defined. The addition sequence is Cauchy by the compatibility proved below. The group commutator estimate puts $[x^{p^n},y^{p^n}]$ in $U_{2n+1}$, so its displayed root exists and lies in $U_1$. Collection of group commutators shows that successive bracket approximants differ in layers tending to the identity, giving the other limit. The group commutator identities give additivity of the limiting bracket, and the Hall-Witt identity gives its Jacobi identity. Approximate commutativity makes limiting addition commutative. The resulting lattice $L_G$ is a free module over ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$ of rank $d(G)$, and $[L_G,L_G]\le p{L}_G$.

A powerful Lie algebra over p-adic integers, in the convention relevant here, is a Lie algebra $L$ whose underlying module is finite free over ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$ and whose bracket satisfies $[L,L]\le pL$. For $p=2$ the condition is instead $[L,L]\le 4L$. For odd $p$, define multiplication on its underlying set by the convergent Baker--Campbell--Hausdorff formulaAn iterated bracket of degree $m$ lies in $p^{m-1}L$. The BCH coefficient bound loses at most $\lfloor (m-1)/(p-1)\rfloor$ powers of $p$, so all higher-degree terms are integral, and their valuations tend to infinity. This explains both convergence and why multiplying a lattice with small bracket stays inside the lattice. Formal associativity of BCH passes to the convergent series, the identity is $0$, the inverse is $-x$, and every group power satisfies $x^{\ast m}=mx$. The quotients by $p^{a}L$ are finite p-groups. Hence the resulting compact group is a finitely generated torsion-free group and a pro-p group, and its group commutator lies in $pL$. Thus $(L,\ast )$ is a uniform pro-p group, with $P_i(L,\ast )=p^{i-1}L$ and successive index $p^{{\mathrm{rank}}_{{\mathbb{Z}}_p}L}$.

The standard uniform-group/Lie-lattice correspondence identifies these constructions as mutually inverse: $L_{(L,\ast )}\cong L$ and $(L_G,\ast )\cong G$. To see why the inverse limits recover the lattice operations, the addition approximant for a BCH group is $p^{-n}\mathrm{BCH}(p^{n}x,p^{n}y)$: its linear term is $x+y$ and every higher term tends to zero. Similarly its group commutator approximant has limiting term $[x,y]$. In the other direction, a local logarithm in the complete normed group algebra identifies the intrinsic operations with algebra addition and commutator and identifies group multiplication with BCH; the uniform power maps extend the identification from a sufficiently small power subgroup to all of $G$. Continuous group homomorphisms respect powers, unique roots and limits, while Lie algebra homomorphisms respect every BCH term, so the equivalence also preserves morphisms.

We next bound the closed derived series. For odd $p$, the depth calculation yieldsFor the inclusion from left to right, two series of depth at least $m$ commute modulo ${\mathcal{N}}_{2m+1}$: at depth $2m$ the only possible leading pair has equal depths and its coefficient vanishes. For the reverse inclusion, every depth $k\ge 2m+1$ can be written $r+s=k$ with $r,s\ge m$ and $r\not\equiv s(\mathrm{mod}p)$. Start with $r=m,s=k-m$; if their difference vanishes modulo $p$, replace them by $r=m+1,s=k-m-1$, which is allowed except at $k=2m+1$, where the original difference is already nonzero. The difference changes by $2$, nonzero for odd $p$. Commutators thus supply every high leading coefficient, and closed successive coefficient correction fills the tail.

With ${\mathcal{N}}^{(0)}={\mathcal{N}}_1$, induction on $n$ givesFor $p=2$ use the standard characteristic-two derived-series collection bound, explicitly stated as an additional result:for a fixed constant $C$. One can take a fixed enlarged constant from the tail estimate ${\mathcal{N}}^{(n)}\supseteq {\mathcal{N}}_{\lceil 4{\kappa }^n\rceil +1}$. The more involved two-coefficient collection is necessary in characteristic two; the exact odd-prime tail formula is not asserted there.

In either case there are constants $C^{\prime }>0$ and $\lambda <3$ such that ${\log }_p[\mathcal{N}:{\mathcal{N}}^{(n)}]\le C^{\prime }{\lambda }^n$. If an analytic structure existed, its dimension $d$ would be positive, since a zero-dimensional analytic pro-p group is discrete and compact, hence finite. The second alternative of the supplied theorem would requirefor all sufficiently large $n$, for some fixed $s$. Combining the bounds gives $d{3}^{-s}\le C^{\prime }(\lambda /3{)}^n$, impossible as $n\to \infty$.

The root solution proved hereditary just infiniteness, so the supplied theorem applies. Part (i) excluded its linear alternative, and this calculation excludes its growth alternative. Hence the Nottingham group is not analytic over any pro-$p$ ring.

We construct an infinite residually finite torsion group using the Golod-Shafarevich infinitude criterion for pro-p groups. Its useful form says that a pro-$p$ presentation on $d$ generators with relators $r_i$ gives an infinite pro-p group wheneverHere $D$ is the Magnus degree of a free pro-p group element: map each generator to $1+X_j$ in a noncommutative power-series algebra over ${\mathbb{F}}_p$, and take the lowest degree of $w-1$. The criterion permits infinitely many relators with a convergent weight sum. It is a consequence of the Golod-Shafarevich inequality for the completed group algebra; see Ershov's survey, Theorem 3.1.

Take $p=2$, $d=2$, and $\tau =3/4$. Let $F$ be the free pro-p group on $a,b$, and enumerate all ordinary finite words $w_1,w_2,\dots$ in these generators and their inverses. Choose integers $e_i$ sufficiently large thatForm the quotient pro-p groupwhere the bar means the closed normal closure. If the Magnus image of $w_i$ is $1+v_i$, characteristic two givesfor nonidentity $w_i$; identity relators contribute zero weight. It follows thatThus the Golod-Shafarevich infinitude criterion for pro-p groups proves that $P$ is infinite.

Let $G=⟨\bar{a},\bar{b}⟩$ be the abstract subgroup generated by the two images inside $P$. This subgroup is dense because the two images topologically generate the quotient, and it is infinite: a finite subgroup of a Hausdorff profinite group is closed, so could not be dense in infinite $P$. Every element of $G$ is the image of some ordinary word $w_i$, and the imposed relation makes its order divide $2^{e_i}$. Therefore $G$ is a two-generated torsion group. Finally $P$ is an inverse limit of finite 2-groups. Any nonidentity element of $G$ is nonidentity in $P$ and hence has a nonidentity image in one of those finite groups. Restricting that map to $G$ proves that it is a residually finite group. We have obtainedThe abstract subgroup $G$ is essential here: the argument establishes finite order for ordinary words, not for every topological limit in the ambient pro-p group.

There is no surjective homomorphism from this group to an infinite soluble group. In fact finitely generated soluble torsion groups are finite. To prove this, let $S$ be finitely generated, soluble and torsion, and induct on its derived length. In the abelian case, finitely many generators of finite orders generate a finite group. In general the abelianization $S/S^{\prime }$ is a finitely generated abelian torsion group, hence finite. Its kernel $S^{\prime }$ therefore has finite index and is finitely generated by Schreier's lemma. Explicitly, for a finite coset transversal $T$ containing $1$ and a finite symmetric generating set $X$, the finitely many elements $tx{\overline{tx}}^{-1}$ generate the finite-index subgroup, where the bar denotes the chosen representative of the coset. Now $S^{\prime }$ is torsion and has smaller derived length, so induction makes it finite. Hence $S$ is finite as well. Every quotient of $G$ is finitely generated and torsion, so any soluble quotient must be finite.

For a profinite group, its profinite Frattini subgroup isUse $G$ for an empty intersection. This is a closed normal subgroup, invariant under continuous group automorphisms, since these automorphisms permute the maximal open subgroups. Let $H=\overline{⟨X⟩}$. If $H=G$, its image certainly topologically generates $G/\Phi (G)$. Conversely, suppose $H\ne G$. For $g\notin H$, the open normal subgroup basis of a profinite group gives $N{⊴}_{o}G$ with $g\notin HN$: choose a sufficiently small neighbourhood $gN$ disjoint from the closed subgroup $H$. The proper subgroup $HN/N$ of the finite group $G/N$ lies in a maximal proper subgroup. Its preimage $M$ is a maximal proper open subgroup of $G$, contains $H$, and contains $\Phi (G)$. Since $H\Phi (G)$ is compact and therefore closed, density of the image of $X$ in $G/\Phi (G)$ would force $H\Phi (G)=G$, contradicting $H\Phi (G)\le M<G$. Generation can therefore be tested modulo the profinite Frattini subgroup.

For a finite p-group, every maximal proper subgroup is normal and has index $p$. One proof uses the normalizer condition for finite p-groups: maximality forces its normalizer to be the whole group, and its simple $p$-group quotient has order $p$. Therefore every such maximal subgroup contains powers and group commutators. Conversely, the quotient by the algebraic $G^p[G,G]$ is an elementary abelian p-group; its nonzero elements are separated by linear maps to ${\mathbb{F}}_p$. Their kernels give maximal subgroups. This proves the finite Frattini subgroup formula.

Now take a pro-p group and put $D=\overline{G^p[G,G]}$, retaining the closure of the algebraically generated subgroups. A maximal open subgroup is the preimage of a maximal subgroup of a finite $p$-group quotient, so it contains $D$. If $g\notin D$, some finite quotient of the profinite group $G/D$ detects $gD$. That quotient is elementary abelian, and a linear functional nonzero at $gD$ gives a continuous group homomorphism $G\to {\mathbb{F}}_p$ whose kernel is a maximal open subgroup missing $g$. HenceThe closure bar is present in the original PDF; the converted TeX fraction is an extraction error.

For the finite-index assertion, first pass from the arbitrary abstract subgroup $K$ to its normal core of a subgroup $C$. The action on the finitely many cosets of $K$ shows $[G:C]<\infty$, without assuming that $K$ or $C$ is closed. Write $m=[G:C]=p^{r}q$ with $(p,q)=1$, and let $X_m=\{h^m:h\in G\}$. By Lagrange theorem, $X_m\subseteq C$. For $N{⊴}_{o}G$, the quotient $G/N$ is a finite p-group of order, say, $p^s$. Choose an integer $a$ with $aq\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}{p}^s)$. Thenso $g^{p^r}\in X_{m}N$ for every such $N$. The set $X_m$ is the continuous image of the compact space $G$, hence is closed. Consequently $g^{p^r}\in {\bigcap }_N{X}_{m}N=X_m\subseteq C$. Every element of the abstract finite quotient $G/C$ thus has order dividing $p^r$. By Cauchy theorem for groups, no prime other than $p$ divides its order. Therefore $[G:C]$, and its divisor $[G:K]$, are powers of $p$. This proof does not assume continuity of the finite quotient map.

To prove openness under finite generation, first establish commutator collection with fixed generators in nilpotent groups. If a nilpotent group $P$ is generated by $a_1,\dots ,a_d$, every element of $P\prime$ isInduct on the nilpotency class $c$. The assertion is trivial for $c=1$. Apply the induction hypothesis in $P/{\gamma }_c(P)$; the remaining error lies in the central subgroup ${\gamma }_c(P)=[{\gamma }_{c-1}(P),P]$. Since commutators in this last layer are central, collecting against words in the $a_i$ expresses the error as ${\prod }_i[y_i,a_i]$ with $y_i\in {\gamma }_{c-1}(P)$. Also $[P\prime ,{\gamma }_{c-1}(P)]\le {\gamma }_{c+1}(P)=1$. Thus replacing each $x_i$ by $x_i{y}_i$ multiplies the desired product by precisely that central error, proving the formula.

Let $a_1,\dots ,a_d$ now topologically generate $G$. Every finite continuous quotient is a nilpotent group, so the formula holds there with these fixed generators. For $z\in \overline{[G,G]}$, the sets of tuples $(x_1,\dots ,x_d)\in G^d$ solving $z\equiv {\prod }_i[x_i,a_i](\mathrm{mod}N)$ are nonempty closed subsets of a compact space. They have the finite intersection property, by replacing finitely many $N$ by their intersection. A common tuple solves the equality in $G$. It follows that the algebraic commutator subgroup is the compact image of $G^d$ under this product map, and is closed.

Its quotient $A=G/[G,G]$ is a topologically finitely generated abelian pro-p group. The continuous map ${\mathbb{Z}}_p^d\to A$ taking $({\lambda }_i)$ to ${\prod }_i{\bar{a}}_i^{{\lambda }_i}$ is onto, because its compact image contains a dense generating subgroup. Therefore $A/pA$ is generated as an elementary abelian group by at most $d$ elements, and $pA$ is compact. The preimage $G^p[G,G]$ of $pA$ is closed of finite index, hence open: its complement is a finite union of closed cosets. The finite-index result and the maximal-subgroup property of finite p-groups show that any abstract index-$p$ subgroup of $G$ is normal. It contains this open subgroup, so is itself open.

Finally, a finite-index normal subgroup $C$ has finite $p$-group quotient. If $[G:C]>1$, choose a normal index-$p$ subgroup in that quotient and call its preimage $H$. The preceding argument makes $H$ open. An open subgroup of a finitely generated pro-p group is finitely generated: intersect a finitely generated dense abstract subgroup with $H$, use the Schreier lemma, and observe that the intersection is dense in the open subgroup $H$. Induction on $[G:C]$ now makes $C$ open in $H$, hence in $G$. Returning to the normal core of a subgroup, $K$ is a union of open cosets of $C$. Every finite-index subgroup of a finitely generated pro-p group is open.