Universal deformation rings, endo-trivial modules, and semidihedral and generalized quaternion 2-groups (Q1713014)

Let \(W\) be a complete discrete valuation ring with residue field \(k\) of prime characteristic \(p\). Let \(G\) be a finite group. The main result shows that the universal deformation ring \(R(G,V)\) of an endotrivial \(kG\)-module \(V\) is isomorphic to the group algebra \(WG^{\text{ab},p}\), where \(G^{\text{ab},p}\) is the \(p\)-part of the abelianisation of \(G\). Recall that a \(kG\)-module \(V\) is endotrivial if \(V\otimes V^*\cong k\) in the stable module category, where \(V^*=\operatorname{Hom}_k(V,k)\) is the \(k\)-dual of \(V\). Moreover, if \(V_W\) lifts \(V\) over \(W\), then the universal deformation of \(V\) over \(WG^{\text{ab},p}\) is given by the isomorphism class of \(V_W\otimes_WWG^{\text{ab},p}\), as a module for \(G\) over \(WG^{\text{ab},p}\), on which \(g\in G\) acts diagonally. As a consequence, if \(k\) is algebraically closed and if \(\hat B\) is a nilpotent block of \(WG\) with defect group \(D\), then, given a finitely generated \(kG\)-module \(V\) belonging to \(\hat B\) such that the stable endomorphism ring of \(V\) is isomorphic to \(k\), the universal deformation ring \(R(G,V)\) is isomorphic to \(WD^{\text{ab},p}\). If \(p=2\) and \(G\) is a \(2\)-group that is either semidihedral or quaternion, the authors give an explicit description of the universal deformation of every indecomposable endotrivial \(kG\)-module.