Testing modules of groups of even order for simplicity (Q1265536): Difference between revisions

The main computational tool for testing simplicity of modules for an algebra (such as a group algebra) is Norton's criterion, which is essentially a straightforward result in elementary linear algebra -- see \textit{R. A. Parker}'s original paper on the Meat-axe [Computational group theory, Proc. Symp., Durham 1982, 267-274 (1984; Zbl 0555.20001)]. One chooses an element \(x\) of the algebra \(A\), and computes the nullspace \(N_1\) of its action on the module \(M\), and the nullspace \(N_2\) of its action on the dual module \(M^*\). If some nonzero vector of \(N_1\) generates the whole of \(M\) under the action of \(A\), and if every nonzero vector of \(N_2\) generates the whole of \(M^*\), then \(M\) is a simple \(A\)-module. This is easily generalised, by replacing the second condition (\(vA=M^*\) for all \(0\neq v\in N_2\)) by the weaker condition \(N_2A=M^*\). The present paper describes the implementation of the latter test in the case where \(x=t\pm 1\), for a non-central involution \(t\) in the group \(G\), where \(A\) is a group algebra over \(G\). This includes some simplifications to the basic algorithm which are possible by utilising the action of the centralizer of \(t\).