Extendible characters and monomial groups of odd order. (Q2497437): Difference between revisions

A finite group \(G\) is called an M-group if each of its complex irreducible characters is induced from a linear character of some subgroup of \(G\). One of the outstanding questions in the theory of M-groups is: ``Is every normal subgroup of an M-group \(G\) an M-group?'' It is well-known that it is not true in general. \textit{E. C. Dade} [Math. Z. 133, 313-317 (1973; Zbl 0255.20007)] and \textit{R. W. van der Waall} [Nederl. Akad. Wet., Proc., Ser. A 77, 157-167 (1974; Zbl 0279.20013)] did construct examples of M-groups \(G\) containing a normal non-M-subgroup of index 2. The question whether any normal subgroup of an M-group \(G\), where \(G\) has odd order, is again an M-group, is still unsolved today. The author of this paper has shown in her Urbana-Champaign dissertation of 2001, that the following holds: Theorem A: If \(G\) is an M-group of order \(p^aq^b\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are odd primes and the integers \(a\) and \(b\) are nonnegative, then any normal subgroup of \(G\) is an M-group. The proof in Loukaki's dissertation is long and full of intricacies. Notions like character triples, linear reductions, linear limits, central characters, triangular sets are widely used and expanded. Due to the deep techniques developed in Loukaki's dissertation, it was decided to publish separately in this paper, two of the main tools that gave rise to the proof of Theorem A, on their own account (Theorems B and D). Besides that, an explanation and working-out of the approach in the dissertation is presented in this paper. The non-presented machinery of the ``triangular sets'' can be avoided, due to methods found by Dade after 2001. In a forthcoming paper by Dade and Loukaki they hope to present this amelioration. Therefore, in the paper under review by means of Theorems B and D only, it is shown to the reader, that a more restrictive fact holds already, namely: ``Every normal subgroup of an M-group \(G\) of odd order, where \(G\) is a \(\{p,q\}\)-group with nilpotent length at most 3, is an M-group.'' As a closing remark, the reader is also referred to a strongly related later paper of \textit{M. L. Lewis} [J. Algebra Appl. 5, No. 4, 465-503 (2006; Zbl 1109.20007)]. A review of that paper is due to appear shortly.