Blocks with the hyperfocal subgroup \(\mathbb{Z}_{2^n}\times\mathbb{Z}_{2^n}\) (Q1630086)

Let \(G\) be finite group, \(p\) a prime and \(b\) a \(p\)-block of \(G\) with defect group \(P\). Let \(\mathcal{F}\) be the fusion system on \(P\) associated with the block \(b\) and let \(Q\) be the hyperfocal subgroup of \(\mathcal{F}\). Let \(k(b)\) and \(l(b)\) denote the number of irreducible ordinary characters and irreducible Brauer characters in the block \(b\), respectively. From a conjecture of \textit{R. Rouquier} [in: Modular representation theory of finite groups. Proceedings of a symposium, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA, May 8--15, 1998. Berlin: de Gruyter. 101--146 (2001; Zbl 0998.20006)] it would follow that \(k(b)\) and \(l(b)\) would be respectively equal to \(k(c)\) and \(l(c)\) when \(Q\) is abelian, where \(c\) is the Brauer correspondent of \(b\) in \(N_G(Q)\). In this paper, the authors study the case \(p=2\) and \(Q={\mathbb Z}_{2^n}\times {\mathbb Z}_{2^n}\) for a positive integer number \(n\) in two specific situations: when the block \(b\) is controlled by \(N_G(P)\) and \(Q\) lies in \(Z(P)\); and when the block \(b\) is not controlled by \(N_G(P)\) and \(Q\) is contained in the center of the unique essential subgroup in the fusion system and \(|Q|\) is less than 16. In this case, the investigation is reduced to the investigation of \(k(b)\) and \(l(b)\) when \(P\) is the wreath product \(Q\wr {\mathbb Z}_2\). In particular, Alperin's weight conjecture holds in the considered cases.