Nilpotent blocks and their source algebras (Q1103716)

In 1981 L. Puig distributed a preprint which contained an announcement together with an outline of the proof of the main theorem of the present paper. Now, 7 years later, we finally hold in our hands a detailed proof of this important result. Let \(F\) be an algebraically closed field of prime characteristic \(p\), and let \(R\) be a complete discrete valuation ring with residue field \(F\). A \(p\)-block \(b\) of a finite group \(G\) is called nilpotent if \(N_ G(Q,f)/C_ G(Q)\) is a \(p\)-group for any \(p\)-subgroup \(Q\) of \(G\) and any \(p\)-block \(f\) of \(QC_ G(Q)\) such that \(f^ G=b\). This definition is a far reaching generalization of a block of defect zero. Important examples of nilpotent blocks are blocks of \(p\)-nilpotent groups and blocks with central defect groups. In [Invent. Math. 56, 117-128 (1980; Zbl 0425.20008)] \textit{M. Broué} and the author computed the matrix of generalized decomposition numbers of a nilpotent block (up to certain signs). The present paper can be viewed as a continuation of [loc. cit.] although it is logically independent and thus also gives a new proof of the main result in [loc. cit.]. The concept of the source algebra of a \(p\)-block \(b\) of a finite group \(G\) with defect group \(P\) was introduced by the author [in Math. Z. 176, 265-292 (1981; Zbl 0464.20007)]. It is pair consisting of the abstract \(R\)-algebra \(iRGi\) where \(i\) is a primitive idempotent in \((RGb)^ P\) such that \(Br_ P(i)\neq 0\), and the group homomorphism \(P\to (iRGi)^*\), \(u\mapsto iu\); here \((RGb)^ P\) denotes the algebra of \(P\)-fixed points on \(RGb\) under the conjugation action, \(Br_ P\) denotes the Brauer homomorphism, and \((iRGi)^*\) denotes the group of units of \(iRGi\). It is known that the source algebra determines many invariants of \(b\), e.g. the number of irreducible (ordinary and modular) characters, the matrix of generalized decomposition numbers, and the Morita equivalence type of \(RGb\). It is shown in the present paper that if \(b\) is nilpotent then the source algebra of \(b\) is a tensor product \(S\otimes_ RRP\) where \(S\) is the algebra of \(R\)-endomorphisms of an indecomposable endo-permutation module \(V\) for \(RP\) with vertex \(P\); the corresponding group homomorphism \(P\to (S\otimes_ RRP)^*\) is the diagonal of two homomorphisms \(P\to S^*\) and \(P\to (RP)^*\), the homomorphism \(P\to (RP)^*\) being the obvious one and the homomorphism \(P\to S^*\) being the representation corresponding to \(V\). One consequence of this result is that when \(b\) is nilpotent then the \(R\)-algebra \(RGb\) is isomorphic to a complete matrix algebra over \(RP\). It is an open question whether the converse of this fact is also true.