Schur indices and Schur groups (Q1336470)

This paper is the continuation of the author's deep investigation of the Schur index [which was begun in J. Algebra 97, 101-115 (1985; Zbl 0571.20005)]. Here the concept of Schur group with respect to a prime \(p\) is introduced, and two types \(G(p^a, q)\) and \(G(p^a, q,r)\) and five exceptional types (where \(p^a= 2\)) are described. The important feature of a Schur group \(G\) is that if \(\chi\in \text{Irr} (G)\) is a faithful character, then \(\chi\) has \(q\)-local index \(p^a\), respectively index 2 in the exceptional case (including \(q= \infty\)). A characterization of Schur groups using the Brauer-Witt theorem is given, and this leads to the following theorem. Assume that \(\chi\) is an irreducible character of the finite group \(G\), and that the \(p\)-part if its Schur index is \(p^a\). If \(p^a> 2\), then the Schur groups of type \(G(p^a, q)\) and \(G(p^a, q,r)\) are sections of \(G\). If \(p=2\), then the same is true unless \(\mathbb{Q}(\chi)\) does not contain the 4th roots of unity and one of the exceptional Schur groups is involved in \(G\). This theorem relies on the knowledge of the Schur groups, and many known results can be deduced and improved by inspection.