Cohomology of finite soluble groups (Q1821871)

Let G be a finite group, p a prime and K a field of characteristic p. Then it is well known that if V is an irreducible KG-module not in the principal block of KG, then \(H^ n(G,V)=0\) for all \(n\in {\mathbb{N}}\). Here the author is concerned with the converse of this result. Conjecture. If V is an irreducible module in the principal block of KG, then there exists \(n\in {\mathbb{N}}\) such that \(H^ n(G,V)\neq 0.\) \textit{R. Swan} [in J. Algebra 17, 401-403 (1971; Zbl 0232.20107)] proved it for the trivial KG-module K. \textit{T. Diethelm} [Comment. Math. Helv. 58, 379-387 (1983; Zbl 0537.20027)] verified the conjecure when G is p- soluble with p-length one. Here it is shown: Thm. A: Suppose G is p- soluble and \(p\geq 5\). If V is an irreducible KG-module in the principal block of KG, then there exists \(n\in {\mathbb{N}}\) such that \(n<| G| /p\) and \(H^{2n}(G,V)\neq 0.\) For the proof, one quickly reduces to the case \(O_{p'}G=1\). If \(H=O_ pG\) then it is shown that if \(H^*(H,K)\) contains non-zero free K(G/H)- modules, then \(H^ n(G,V)\neq 0\) for some \(n\in {\mathbb{N}}\). To prove that the author uses techniques and results of \textit{L. Evens} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 108, 54-65 (1963; Zbl 0122.028)] and \textit{Y. Ogawa} [Jap. J. Math., New Ser. 8, 211-216 (1982; Zbl 0495.20023)]. In two subsequent papers [''The block structure and Ext of p-soluble groups'', J. Algebra (to appear) and ''The cohomology of p-constrained groups''] the author, in joint work with \textit{U. Stammbach} have extended Thm. A. They have proved: Thm. A': (i) Let G be a p-soluble group. If M and N are irreducible, KG-modules in the same block of KG, then there exists \(n\in {\mathbb{N}}\) such that \(Ext^ n_{KG}(M,N)\neq 0\). (ii) Let G be a p-constrained group. If M and N are irreducible KG-modules in the principal block of KG, then there exists \(n\in {\mathbb{N}}\) such that \(Ext^ n_{KG}(M,N)\neq 0\). Moreover, they have shown that in Thm. A' neither the hypothesis that G is p-constrained, nor the hypothesis that M and N are irreducible even if G is p-soluble can be dropped.