Connecting monomiality questions with the structure of rational group algebras (Q2065621)

Let \(G\) be a finite group. By Maschke's theorem, the rational group algebra \(\mathbb Q G\) is semisimple and the Wedderburn-Artin theorem implies that \(\mathbb Q G\) decomposes uniquely as \(\oplus_{i=1}^mM_{n_i}(D_i)\), where \(M_{n_i}(D_i)\) is the algebra of \(n_i\times n_i\) matrices over a finite dimensional division algebra \(D_i\) over \(\mathbb Q\). This decomposition gives rise to a set of uniquely determined primitive central idempotents \(e_1,e_2,\ldots,e_m\), each of which can be expressed by some complex character \(\chi_i\). A fundamental problem in group rings is to understand the precise Wedderburn decomposition of the rational group algebra of a finite group. The determination of the primitive central idempotents idempotents of \(\mathbb Q G\) for general finite group is a hard problem far to be solved. Many authors restricted themselves to some classes of groups as for example the class of strongly monomial groups, and gave precise description of the simple components of the rational group algebra. The authors of the present paper generalize the study to the case of the so-called generalized strongly monomial groups. Next we recall some definitions given in the text: A Shoda pair of a group \(G\) is a pair \((H,K)\) of subgroups of \(G\) satisfying the following: (i) \(K\trianglelefteq H\) and \(H/K\) is cyclic. (ii) If \(g\in G\) such that \([H,g]\cap H\subseteq K\), then \(g\in H\). The authors define also the so-called strong Shoda pair. A strongly monomial character of \(G\) is an irreducible complex character \(\chi\) of \(G\) such that \(\chi=\lambda^G\) for a linear character \(\lambda\) of a subgroup \(H\) with kernel \(K\) such that \((H, K)\) is a strong Shoda pair of \(G\). A generalized strong Shoda pair is a Shoda pair \((H,K)\) such that there is a chain \(H=H_1\leq H_2\leq \ldots\leq H_n=G\) of subgroups of \(G\), and such that: (i) \(H_i\trianglelefteq Cen(e_{\mathbb Q}(\lambda^{H_i}))\). (ii) the distinct \(H_{i+1}\)-conjugates of \(e_{\mathbb Q}(\lambda^{H_i})\) are mutually orthogonal. A generalized strongly monomial character is an irreducible complex character \(\chi\) of a group \(G\) such that \(\chi=\lambda ^G\) for a linear character \(\lambda\) of some subgroup \(H\) with kernel \(K\) such that \((H, K)\) is a generalized strong Shoda pair of \(G\). A group such that all its irreducible characters are generalized strongly monomial is called generalized monomial group. In this paper, the authors prove the following results: Every solvable group is isomorphic to a subgroup of some generalized strongly monomial group. Any wreath product of a generalized strongly monomial group by a cyclic group of prime order is generalized strongly monomial group. Any finite product of generalized strongly monomial groups is generalized strongly monomial. They also prove that many classes of finite groups turn to be generalized strongly monomial. This the case for supermonomial groups, the monomial groups of order \(p^aq^b\) and their normal subgroups and the monomial groups which are nilpotent-by-supersolvable.