Lower degree bounds for modular invariants and a question of I. Hughes (Q1128340)

Let \(K\) be a field, \(G\) a finite group and \(V\) a finitely generated \(KG\)-module of dimension \(n\). Then \(G\) acts on \(A:=\text{Sym}(V^*)\), the symmetric algebra over the dual space \(V^*\), via \(K\)-algebra automorphisms. One defines the ring of \(G\)-invariants: \(A^G:= \{a \in A\mid a^g=a\), for all \(g\in G\}\). In this paper the author proves the following two results. A: Let \(f_1, \dots, f_n\in A^G\) be primary invariants (i.e. such that \(A^G\) is a finitely generated module over \(K[f_1, \dots, f_n])\). Then the least common multiple of the degrees of the \(f_i\) is a multiple of the exponent of \(G\). This has been proved earlier by Ian Hughes in case that the characteristic of \(K\) does not divide the group order \(| G|\). So the present papers extends this to the case of an arbitrary coefficient field. B: Suppose that the characteristic of \(K\) is a prime \(p>0\) dividing \(| G|\) and \(G\leq\Sigma_n\) is a permutation group in its natural action on \(V:=K^n\). With \(V^m\) we denote the \(m\)-fold direct sum of copies of \(V\). The corresponding ring \(K[V^m]^G\) is called a ring of vector invariants. In this situation, the author proves, that \(K[V^m]^G\) cannot be generated by elements of degree less than \(m(p-1)\). This improves a bound, given earlier by D. Richman. It also shows that there is no `universal degree bound' for generators of modular invariant rings of finite groups, which is independent of the representation. This is in contrast to the `classical situation' \(K=\mathbb{C}\) (or \(\text{char} (K)> | G|)\), where a theorem of Emmy Noether states that the group order \(| G|\) is such a universal degree bound.