On the Schur indices of certain irreducible characters of finite Chevalley groups (Q1288001)

This paper is an expanded version of the author's research announcement [Proc. Japan Acad., Ser. A 64, No. 7, 253-255 (1988; Zbl 0667.20034)], which appeared eleven years ago. The author proves that the Schur indices over the rational numbers of certain irreducible complex characters of various families of finite Chevalley groups \(G\) are at most 2. The characters in question are assumed either to occur with multiplicity 1 in the character of \(G\) induced by a linear character of a Sylow \(p\)-subgroup of \(G\) (where \(p\) is the characteristic associated with \(G\)) or, when \(p\) is a good prime for \(G\), to have degree relatively prime to \(p\). More detailed calculations show that, for certain classes of the groups in question (for example, adjoint groups), the Schur indices are 1, while the adoption of different types of hypotheses enables the author to prove the existence of characters of Schur index 2 in other circumstances. As is usually the case in work of this type, precise statements of the relevant hypotheses are quite involved and we will not attempt to summarize the lists of results obtained. They are all in line with previous findings in this area of study.