Blocks of finite groups and their invariants. (Q476783)

Let \(p\) be a prime, and let \(G\) be a finite group. Then the irreducible characters of \(G\) are distributed into \(p\)-blocks, and each \(p\)-block \(B\) of \(G\) determines a \(p\)-subgroup \(D\) of \(G\), unique up to conjugation, called a defect group of \(B\). If \(|D|=p^d\) then \(d\) is called the defect of \(B\). The number of irreducible characters of \(G\) in \(B\) is denoted by \(k(B)\). Moreover, each irreducible character \(\chi\) of \(G\) in \(B\) determines a nonnegative integer \(h\), the height of \(\chi\). For \(i\geq 0\), the number of irreducible characters of \(G\) in \(B\) of height \(i\) is denoted by \(k_i(B)\). In addition, the number of irreducible Brauer characters of \(G\) belonging to \(B\) is denoted by \(l(B)\). It is known that, for any finite \(p\)-group \(D\), there are only finitely many possibilities for the numerical invariants \(k(B)\), \(k_i(B)\) (\(i\geq 0\)) and \(l(B)\) of a \(p\)-block \(B\) with defect group \(D\). One of the objectives of modular representation theory is the explicit computation of all possibilities for these invariants, for a given finite \(p\)-group \(D\). There are several important open problems concerning the numerical invariants of a \(p\)-block \(B\) with defect group \(D\). For example, conjectures by Brauer and Olsson predict that \(k(B)\leq |D|\) and \(k_0(B)\leq |D:D'|\), and Brauer's height zero conjecture asserts that \(k(B)=k_0(B)\) if and only if \(D\) is abelian. The Alperin-McKay conjecture predicts that \(k_0(B)=k_0(b)\) where \(b\) is the Brauer correspondent of \(B\), a certain block of \(N_G(D)\) with defect group \(D\). Similarly, Alperin's weight conjecture connects \(l(B)\) with the number of certain \(p\)-blocks of \(N_G(Q)/Q\) of defect zero, for subgroups \(Q\) of \(D\). Also, Robinson's ordinary weight conjecture gives explicit formulas for the numbers \(k_i(B)\) (\(i\geq 0\)). When the defect group \(D\) of a \(p\)-block \(B\) is cyclic, the numerical invariants of \(B\) are known by a classical result by Dade. When \(p=2\) and \(D\) is dihedral, semidihedral or (generalized) quaternion then the numerical invariants of \(B\) were determined by Brauer and Olsson. In these cases the numerical conjectures are verified easily. The book under review is a report on recent progress concerning the numerical block invariants and the corresponding numerical conjectures, achieved by the author, his coauthors and others. It is divided into three parts. The first part describes general notions and facts in modular representation theory and states the relevant open conjectures. In the second part the author explains the main methods used for the computation of block invariants. Here certain integral quadratic forms determined by the Cartan matrix of a block \(B\) or its inverse play a major role. Another important tool is the fusion system of \(B\). The author also outlines how, in certain cases, reduction theorems and the classification of the finite simple groups can be applied. In the third and most important part of the book, the author applies his methods to blocks with specific types of defect groups. Among these are defect groups which are metacyclic or, more generally, bicyclic (i.e.\ products of two cyclic subgroups). The author also considers defect groups which are direct or central products of a 2-group of maximal class and a cyclic 2-group, and he investigates minimal nonabelian defect groups and defect groups of \(p\)-rank 2. In addition, he deals with 2-blocks of defect \(d\leq 5\), and he improves upon the Brauer-Feit bound for \(k(B)\), in the case of blocks with abelian defect groups.