Simple biset functors and double Burnside ring (Q1946186)

Let \(B(G,G)\) be the double Burnside ring of a finite group \(G\), and let \(k\) be an algebraically closed field. The authors investigate the simple modules of the finite-dimensional \(k\)-algebra \(kB(G,G)=k\otimes_{\mathbb{Z}} B(G,G)\). If \(H\) is an arbitrary finite group then \(kB(G,H)\) becomes a \(kB(G,G)\)-module. Moreover, the subspace \(kI(G,H)\) of \(kB(G,H)\) generated by all bisets which factor trough a proper subquotient of \(H\) is a \(kB(G,G)\)-submodule, so the quotient \(k\bar{B}(G,H)=kB(G,H)/kI(G,H)\) is again a \(kB(G,G)\)-module. The authors construct semisimple quotients \(k\bar{B}(G,H)/R(G,H)\) of \(k\bar{B}(G,H)\) where \(R(G,H)\) is the radical of a certain bilinear form. They show that every simple \(kB(G,G)\)-module is isomorphic to a submodule of \(k\bar{B}(G,H)/R(G,H)\), for a suitable subquotient \(H\) of \(G\). It is known that there is a close connection between simple \(kB(G,G)\)-modules and simple biset functors; recall that a biset functor is a \(k\)-linear functor \(k\mathcal{C} \to k\)-Mod where \(k\mathcal{C}\) is the biset category. The objects of \(k\mathcal{C}\) are the finite groups, its morphism sets are the vector spaces \(kB(G,H)\), and its composition is given by the tensor product of bisets. The biset functors form an abelian category, and every simple \(kB(G,G)\)-module \(V\) gives rise to a simple biset functor \(S_{G,V}\). Moreover, every simple biset functor is naturally equivalent to \(S_{G,V}\) for suitable \(G\) and \(V\) with \(S_{G,V}(G)\cong V\). Thus simple \(kB(G,G)\)-modules can be investigated via simple biset functors. One of the main results of the paper under review shows how the dimension of \(S_{G,V}(H)\) can be computed as the rank of a certain bilinear form. The authors also indicate that most of their results carry over to the subalgebra \(kA(G,G)\) of \(kB(G,G)\) generated by all bisets which are free on both sides.