Smooth cuboids in group theory

Abstract

A smooth cuboid can be identified with a $3\times 3$ matrix of linear forms, with coefficients in a field $K$, whose determinant describes a smooth cubic in the projective plane. To each such matrix one can associate a group scheme over $K$. We produce isomorphism invariants of these groups in terms of their adjoint algebras, which also give information on the number of their maximal abelian subgroups. Moreover, we give a characterization of the isomorphism types of the groups in terms of isomorphisms of elliptic curves and also give a description of the automorphism group. We conclude by applying our results to the determination of the automorphism groups and isomorphism testing of finite $p$-groups of class $2$ and exponent $p$ arising in this way.