On the index of a free abelian subgroup in the group of central units of an integral group ring

Let $\mathcal{Z}(\mathcal{U}(\mathbb{Z}[G]))$ denote the group of central units in the integral group ring $\mathbb{Z}[G]$ of a finite group $G$. A bound on the index of the subgroup generated by a virtual basis in $\mathcal{Z}(\mathcal{U}(\mathbb{Z}[G]))$ is computed for a class of strongly monomial groups. The result is illustrated with application to the groups of order $p^n$, $p$ prime, $n\le 4$. The rank of $\mathcal{Z}(\mathcal{U}(\mathbb{Z}[G]))$ and the Wedderburn decomposition of the rational group algebra of these $p$-groups have also been obtained.