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Let $G$ be a group. A normal subgroup $N$ of $G$ is called ultracharacteristic if for every normal subgroup $U$ of $G$ the condition $$ G/U \cong G/N $$ implies that $U \ge N.$ What are instances of natural conditions on $G/N$ that make $N$ ultracharacteristic? For example, suppose $G/N$ has only inner automorphisms; is then $N$ ultracharacteristic?

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    If K is any group, then N = K x {e} is a normal subgroup of G = K x K, with quotient G/N isomorphic to K. But N cannot be ultracharacteristic unless K is trivial, since G/(K x {e}) and G/({e} x K) are isomorphic. So the only condition that references G/N alone and that guarantees N to be ultracharacteristic is "G/N is trivial".2010-08-14
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    A very neat argument, thanks a lot.2010-08-14
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    @Savitt: Why don't you add it as answer so people can upvote?2010-08-14
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    @Moron: To leave some time for a more contentful answer that might tell the asker what question he/she ought to be asking instead.... But since this doesn't seem to be forthcoming, I'll go ahead.2010-08-15
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    @Savitt: a rephrased/improved question isn't the original one, is it? A lot of people read the question already as it was. Fair's fair. What really interests me is the situation when one has a surjective homomorphism f : G \to GL(n,K) and might hope that the kernel of f is ultracharacteristic. I thought at first the image has something serious to say, but you've demonstrated it's not the case in general.2010-08-15

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If $K$ is any group, then $N = K \times 1$ is a normal subgroup of $G = K \times K$, with quotient $G/N$ isomorphic to $K$. But $N$ cannot be ultracharacteristic unless $K$ is trivial, since $G/(K \times 1)$ and $G/(1 \times K)$ are isomorphic. So the only condition that references $G/N$ alone and that guarantees $N$ to be ultracharacteristic is "$G/N$ is trivial".

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    This also shows there is no condition on N alone. It really depends on the "top" part of the lattice of normal subgroups, and for something like K a simple group, G = K×K, everything is at the top, so you end up looking at all of G anyways, so I don't think you can say too much more that is interesting.2010-08-15