On Jordan blocks of elements of order \(p\) in irreducible representations of classical groups with \(p\)-large highest weights (Q1357803)

Let \(G\) be an algebraic classical group of rank \(r>2\) defined over a field of characteristic \(p>0\). Let \(\phi\) be an irreducible representation of \(G\) and let \(\omega\) denote the highest weight of \(\phi\). Then \(\omega=\sum_i\omega_i p^i\), where \(\omega_i\) are restricted weights. This means that all the coefficients of the expansion of \(\omega_i\) in terms of fundamental weights are at most \(p-1\). Set \(\overline\omega=\sum_i\omega_i\) and \(l(\phi)=2(\overline\omega,\beta)/(\beta,\beta)\), where \(\beta\) is the maximal root of \(G\) and \(( , )\) the standard bilinear form on the space of weights. The author shows that if \(l(\phi)>p\) then the Jordan form of \(\phi(g)\) for each element \(g\) of order \(p\) in \(G\) has at least \(f(r)=8r-10\) blocks of size \(p\). The lower bound \(f(r)\) is further refined depending on the type of \(G\). Say, for \(G\) of type \(A_n\) one can take \(f(r)=2r-2\).