Subgroups with all finite lifts isomorphic are conjugate

Abstract

We show that for non-conjugate subgroups $G_1$ and $G_2$ of a finite group $G$ there exists an extension of $G$ (by a finite group) in which the pre-images of $G_1$ and $G_2$ are not isomorphic. This allows us to show that $\mathbb{Z}$-coset equivalent subgroups of a finite group are not necessarily isomorphic, answering a question of Dipendra Prasad. We also indicate connections to profinite rigidity, anabelian geometry, mapping class groups, and non-arithmetic lattices in Lie groups.

v3. Minor changes. 10 pages