$p$-elements in profinite groups

Abstract

We investigate some properties of the $p$-elements of a profinite group $G$. We prove that if $p$ is odd and the probability that a randomly chosen element of $G$ is a $p$-element is positive, then $G$ contains an open prosolvable subgroup. On the contrary, there exist groups that are not virtually prosolvable but in which the probability that a randomly chosen element of $G$ is a 2-element is arbitrarily close to 1. We prove also that if a profinite group $G$ has the property that, for every $p$-element $x$, it is positive the probability that a randomly chosen element $y$ of $G$ generates with $x$ a pro-$p$ group, then $G$ contains an open pro-$p$ subgroup.