\(p\)-groups and the polynomial ring of invariants question (Q2074806)

Let \(G\) be a finite group of linear transformations of a finite dimensional vector space \(V\) over a field \(F\), \(S(V)\) the symmetric algebra of \(V\), and \(S(V)^G\) the subalgebra of \(G\)-invariants. It has long been known that if \(S(V)^G\) is a polynomial algebra, then \(G\) is generated by pseudo-reflections. The converse also holds in the non-modular case, but fails in general when the characteristic of \(F\) divides the order of the group. The present paper gives a characterization of the property that \(S(V)^G\) is a polynomial algebra in the case when \(G\) is a \(p\)-group, where \(p\) is the characteristic of \(F\). Note that in this case the pseudo-reflections in \(G\) are exactly the transvections in \(G\). The author gives a computational proof that if \(\dim(V)=3\) and \(G\) is generated by transvections, then \(S(V)^G\) is a polynomial algebra. In the case \(\dim(V)\ge 4\) the author proves that \(S(V)^G\) is a polynomial algebra if and only if \begin{itemize} \item[1.] \(S(V)^G\) is Cohen-Macaulay and \item[2.] \(S(V)^{G_U}\) is a polynomial algebra for each \(2\)-dimensional subspace \(U\) of the dual space \(V^*\) of \(V\) (here \(G_U\) stands for the subgroup of \(G\) consisting of the elements fixing \(U\) pointwise). \end{itemize} Note that conditions 1. and 2. above can be viewed as a strengthening of the assumption that ``\(G\) is generated by transvections'' by an earlier result of \textit{G. Kemper} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 547, 69--96 (2002; Zbl 1132.13302)]. Condition 2. above is equivalent to the following: the non-smooth locus of \(S(V)^G\) has dimension at most \(1\).