Compression of finite group actions and covariant dimension (Q2370306)

Let \(G\) be a finite group. A covariant of \(G\) is an equivariant morphism \(\varphi :V\to W\) where \(V\) and \(W\) are complex \(G\)-modules. A covariant is faithful if \(G\) acts faithfully on \(\varphi(V)\). The covariant dimension of \(G\) is the minimal dimension of \(\overline{\varphi(V)}\) for all faithful covariants \(\varphi\) of \(G\). The essential dimension of \(G\) is the minimal dimension of \(\overline{\varphi(V)}\) where \(\varphi\) is taken over all faithful rational covariants. These concepts were studied by \textit{J. Buhler} and \textit{Z. Reichstein} [Compos. Math. 106, No. 2, 159--179 (1997; Zbl 0905.12003)] and \textit{Z. Reichstein} [in: Invariant Theory in All Characteristics, CRM Proc. Lect. Notes 35, 199--202 (2004; Zbl 1066.14055)]. In this article, the covariant dimension of abelian finite groups is calculated. They also obtain upper bounds for the symmetric and alternating groups. As an application, it is shown that every generic field extentions of degree \(n\geq 5\) is defined over a purely transcendental field extension of degree \(n-3\).