Finite groups of deficiency zero involving the Lucas numbers

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate a class of 2-generator 2-relator groups G(n) related to the Fibonacci groups F(2,n), each of the groups in this new class also being defined by a single parameter n, though here n can take negative, as well as positive, values. If n is odd, we show that G(n) is a finite soluble group of derived length 2 (if n is coprime to 3) or 3 (otherwise), and order |2n(n + 2)gnf(n, 3)|, where fn is the Fibonacci number defined by f0=0,f1=1,fn+2=fn+fn+1 and gn is the Lucas number defined by g0 = 2, g1 = 1, gn+2 = gn + gn+1 for n≧0. On the other hand, if n is even then, with three exceptions, namely the cases n = 2,4 or –4, G(n) is infinite; the groups G(2), G(4) and G(–4) have orders 16, 240 and 80 respectively.