Block theory and Brauer's first main theorem for profinite groups (Q2074808)

Let \(G\) be a profinite group. If \(k\) is a field of characteristic \(p>0\) (note that \(k\) can even be infinite, so the algebras and modules are in general non-compact but only pseudocompact), then the completed group algebra \(k[[G]]\) can be decomposed as a product \(\prod_{i\in I}B_i\) of \textit{blocks} \(B_i\), i.e. closed indecomposable algebras. To each block the authors associate the \textit{defect group} of \(G\), that is, a pro-\(p\) subgroup of \(G\) which is unique up to conjugacy (see Theorem 5.2 and Proposition 5.7). The main aim of the paper under review is to prove an analogue of Brauer's first main theorem for profinite groups. In particular, they prove that \textit{if \(D\) is a closed subgroup of \(G\) that is open in a Sylow \(p\)-subgroup containing it, then there is a natural bijection between the blocks of \(G\) over \(k\) with defect \(D\), and the blocks of \(N_G(D)\) over \(k\) with defect \(D\)} (see Theorem 6.7). Note that every block \(D\) is open in a Sylow \(p\)-subgroup containing it (see Proposition 5.8). On the other hand, if one replaces ``open'' with ``closed'' in the above statement, then the result is false: if \(G\) is the free pro-\(p\) group of rank \(2\) generated by \(x\) and \(y\), then the closure \(D\) of \(\langle x\rangle\) in \(G\) provides a counterexample (see Remark 6.9). Moreover, similarly to the finite case, many characterizations of a defect group are given (see Theorem 5.18). The authors state that in a further paper they will employ the tools developed in this paper to classify the blocks of a profinite group having (finite or infinite) cyclic defect group.