On the orders of generators of capable $p$-groups

Abstract

A group is called capable if it is a central factor group. For each prime $p$ and positive integer $c$, we prove the existence of a capable $p$-group of class $c$ minimally generated by an element of order $p$ and an element of order $p^{1+\lfloor\frac{c-1}{p-1}\rfloor}$. This is best possible.