On the number of characters in blocks of quasi-simple groups (Q2188381)

Let \(G\) be a finite group, \({\mathbf k}\) be an algebraically closed field of prime characteristic \(p\), \(B\) be a block of \({\mathbf k}G\), and \(D\) be a defect group of \(B\). In [the author and \textit{G. Navarro}, Arch. Math. 87, No. 5, 390--399 (2006; Zbl 1109.20011)], two conjectures (shown therein to hold in some cases) were made on relationships between various invariants for \(B\) and \(D\): \[ k(B)/k_0(B) \leq k(D') \text{ and } k(B)/l(B) \leq k(D), \] where \(k(B)\) is the number of irreducible complex characters of \(B\), \(k_0(B)\) is the number of height zero irreducible characters, \(l(B)\) is the number of isomorphism classes of irreducible \({\mathbf k}G\)-modules, \(D' = [D,D]\) is the derived subgroup of \(D\), and \(k(D)\) (or \(k(D')\)) is the number of conjugacy classes of \(D\) (or \(D'\)). Interest in these inequalities is due in part to their connection with three well-known conjectures: the Alperin-McKay conjecture, Brauer's \(k(B)\)-conjecture, and Brauer's height zero conjecture. In this work, the author investigates these inequalities for quasi-simple groups (covering groups of simple groups), showing that the inequalities hold for all primes in several cases: covering groups of sporadic groups, alternating groups, or finite simple groups of Lie type in the defining characteristic. Verification is done through a number of explicit computations. The case of covering groups of finite groups of Lie type in the cross-characteristic setting proves to be more challenging, with general results obtained only for \(p \geq 5\). Further, while the inequalities are verified in some cases, in other cases, it is only shown that the pair \((G,B)\) is not a so-called ``minimal counterexample'' to either inequality. Here, a minimal counterexample is defined as a pair \((G,B)\) for which the inequalities hold for all smaller cases: pairs \((G_1,B_1)\) with \(B_1\) having the same defect groups as \(B\) and \(|G_1/Z(G_1)| < |G/Z(G)|\). For classical groups in the cross-characteristic case, the case of unipotent blocks are considered separately from non-unipotent ones, with stronger results obtained in the unipotent case, where the inequalities are verified. In the unipotent cases, formulas for \(k_0(B)\) and \(l(B)\) are derived that have some interest in their own right. For exceptional groups, the inequalities are verified for some small rank groups with larger rank groups limited to the minimal counterexample result.