On groups with automorphisms whose fixed points are Engel

We study finite and profinite groups admitting an action by an elementary abelian group under which the centralizers of automorphisms consist of Engel elements. In particular, we prove the following theorems. Let q be a prime and A an elementary abelian q-group of order q² acting coprimely on a profinite group G. Assume that all elements in C_G(a) are Engel in G for each a ∈ A♯. Then G is locally nilpotent. Let q be a prime, n a positive integer and A an elementary abelian group of order q³ acting coprimely on a finite group G. Assume that for each a ∈ A♯ every element of C_G(a) is n-Engel in C_G(a). Then the group G is k-Engel for some {n, q}-bounded number k.