A construction of \(\widehat 3McL\) and some representation theory in characteristic \(5\) (Q1311324)

The authors study the vertices and sources of the simple modules for the faithful irreducible characters of the triple cover of the McLaughlin group in characteristic 5. A construction of this group, in its 45- dimensional representation over \(\text{GF}(25)\), was first obtained as a more or less trivial consequence of the construction of the Lyons group by \textit{W. Meyer, W. Neutsch} and \textit{R. Parker} [Math. Ann. 272, 29-39 (1985; Zbl 0573.20019)], but is repeated here, using the method explained by \textit{R. A. Parker} and \textit{R. A. Wilson} [J. Symb. Comput. 9, 583-590 (1990; Zbl 0742.20018)]. The authors then proceed by extensive computer calculations to construct the simple modules and calculate the required properties. In particular, the faithful irreducible 5-modular characters of \(3 \cdot McL\), which were originally calculated by \textit{G. Hiss, K. Lux} and \textit{R. Parker} [Manuscr. Math. 73, 91-114 (1991; Zbl 0753.20003)], are here recalculated.