The breadth-degree type of a finite \(p\)-group (Q2057249)

The breadth \(b(G)\) of a finite p-group \(G\) is defined as the maximum integer \(b\) such that there exists a conjugacy class in \(G\) of size \(p^b\). The dual of this notion can be defined for irreducible characters of \(G\). In fact, we can define \(e(G)\) as the maximum integer \(e\) such that there exists an irreducible character in \(G\) of degree \(p^e\). In the paper under review, the authors define the breadth-degree type of a finite \(p\)-group \(G\) to be the pair \((b(G), e(G))\). If \(G\) is a stem \(p\)-group (that is, \(Z(G) \le G')\), then the authors show that \(G\) is size bounded in terms of \(b(G)\) and \(e(G)\). As a consequence, they prove that there are only finitely many finite stem \(p\)-groups with breadth-degree of given type.