Simple 𝑝-adic Lie groups with abelian Lie algebras

Abstract

For each prime 𝑝 and each positive integer 𝑑, we construct the first examples of second countable, topologically simple 𝑝-adic Lie groups of dimension 𝑑 whose Lie algebras are abelian. This answers several questions of Glöckner and Caprace–Monod. The proof relies on a generalization of small cancellation methods that applies to central extensions of acylindrically hyperbolic groups.