The minimal number of characters over a normal p-subgroup

Abstract If N is a normal p-subgroup of a finite group G and θ ∈ Irr ( N ) is a G-invariant irreducible character of N, then the number | Irr ( G | θ ) | of irreducible characters of G over θ is always greater than or equal to the number k p ′ ( G / N ) of conjugacy classes of G / N consisting of p ′ -elements. In this paper, we investigate when there is equality.

Character restrictions and multiplicities in symmetric groups

Abstract We give natural correspondences of odd-degree characters of the symmetric groups and some of their subgroups, which can be described easily by restriction of characters, degrees and multiplicities.

Local functions on finite groups

We study local properties of finite groups using chains of p p -subgroups.

Characters that agree on prime-power-order elements

Characters of p′-Degree of p-Solvable Groups

Character sums and double cosets

Abstract If G is a p-solvable finite group, P is a self-normalizing Sylow p-subgroup of G with derived subgroup P ′ , and Ψ is the sum of all the irreducible characters of G of degree not divisible by p, then we prove that the integer Ψ ( P ′ z P ′ ) is divisible by | P | for all z ∈ G . This answers a question of J. Alperin.

A characteristic subgroup and kernels of Brauer characters

If G is finite group and P is a Sylow p-subgroup of G, we prove that there is a unique largest normal subgroup L of G such that L ⋂ P = L ⋂ NG (P). If G is p-solvable, then L is the intersection of the kernels of the irreducible Brauer characters of G of degree not divisible by p.

New Refinements of the McKay Conjecture for Arbitrary Finite Groups

Let $G$ be an arbitrary finite group and fix a prime number $p$. The McKay conjecture asserts that $G$ and the normalizer in $G$ of a Sylow $p$-subgroup have equal numbers of irreducible characters with degrees not divisible by $p$. The Alperin-McKay conjecture is a version of this as applied to individual Brauer $p$-blocks of $G$. We offer evidence that perhaps much stronger forms of both of these conjectures are true.

Real characters of p′-degree

Finite Group Elements where No Irreducible Character Vanishes

AbstractIn this paper, we consider elements x of a finite group G with the property that χ(x)≠0 for all irreducible characters χ of G. If G is solvable and x has odd order, we show that x must lie in the Fitting subgroup F(G).

Fixed point spaces, primitive character degrees and conjugacy class sizes

Let G be a finite group that acts on a nonzero finite dimensional vector space V over an arbitrary field. Assume that V is completely reducible as a G-module, and that G fixes no nonzero vector of V. We show that some element g ∈ G has a small fixed-point space in V. Specifically, we prove that we can choose g so that dim C V (g) < (1/p)dim V, where p is the smallest prime divisor of |G|.

Coprime Actions, Fixed-Point Subgroups and Irreducible Induced Characters

Fields of values of odd-degree irreducible characters

Abstract In this paper we clarify the quadratic irrationalities that can be admitted by an odd-degree complex irreducible character χ of an arbitrary finite group. Write Q ( χ ) to denote the field generated over the rational numbers by the values of χ, and let d > 1 be a square-free integer. We prove that if Q ( χ ) = Q ( d ) then d ≡ 1 (mod 4) and if Q ( χ ) = Q ( − d ) , then d ≡ 3 (mod 4). This follows from the main result of this paper: either i ∈ Q ( χ ) or Q ( χ ) ⊆ Q ( exp ⁡ ( 2 π i / m ) ) for some odd integer m ≥ 1 .

Invariant characters and coprime actions on finite nilpotent groups

Suppose that a group A acts via automorphisms on a nilpotent group G having coprime order. Given an A-invariant character \(\chi \in {\rm Irr}(G)\), we show that the A-primitive irreducible characters that induce \(\chi \) from an A-invariant subgroup of G all have equal degree. We use this result to obtain some information about the characters of groups of p-length 1.

Groups whose real irreducible characters have degrees coprime to p

Abstract In this paper we study groups for which every real irreducible character has degree not divisible by some given odd prime p .

Transitive permutation groups in which all derangements are involutions

AbstractLet G be a transitive permutation group in which all derangements are involutions. We prove that G is either an elementary abelian 2-group or is a Frobenius group having an elementary abelian 2-group as kernel. We also consider the analogous problem for abstract groups, and we classify groups G with a proper subgroup H such that every element of G not conjugate to an element of H is an involution.