Upper bounds for the number of conjugacy classes of a finite group (Q1375963)

The authors' abstract gives a concise summary: For a finite group \(G\), let \(k(G)\) denote the number of conjugacy classes of \(G\). We prove that a simple group of Lie type of untwisted rank \(l\) over the field of \(q\) elements has at most \((6q)^l\) conjugacy classes. Using this estimate we show that for completely reducible subgroups \(G\) of \(\text{GL}(n,q)\) we have \(k(G)\leq q^{10n}\), confirming a conjecture of \textit{L. G. Kovács} and \textit{G. R. Robinson} [J. Algebra 160, No. 2, 441-460 (1993; Zbl 0830.20048)]. For finite groups \(G\) with \(F^*(G)\) a \(p\)-group we prove that \(k(G)\leq(cp)^a\) where \(p^a\) is the order of a Sylow \(p\)-subgroup of \(G\) and \(c\) is a constant. For groups with \(O_p(G)=1\) we obtain that \(k(G)\leq| G|_{p'}\). This latter result confirms a conjecture of \textit{M. J. Iranzo, G. Navarro}, and \textit{F. Pérez Monasor} [Isr. J. Math. 93, 185-188 (1996; Zbl 0852.20010)]. We also improve various earlier results concerning conjugacy classes of permutation groups and linear groups. As a by-product we show that any finite group \(G\) has a soluble subgroup \(S\) and a nilpotent subgroup \(N\) such that \(k(G)\leq| S|\) and \(k(G)\leq| N|^3\).