On Huppert's \(\rho\)-\(\sigma\) conjecture for blocks (Q2131235)

This paper is concerned with the degrees of the ordinary irreducible characters Irr\((G)\) of a finite group \(G\). Let \(\rho(G)\) be the number of prime divisors of the characters and let \(\sigma(G)\) be the maximal number of prime divisors of a single character. Then it is known that \(|\rho(G)|\leq 6\sigma(G)+1\) and \(|\rho(G)|\leq 3\sigma(G)\), if \(G\) is solvable. These are precise versions of Huppert's \(\rho\text{-}\sigma\)-conjecture. Given a prime \(p\), Irr\((G)\) can be partitioned into \(p\)-blocks, according to the theory of R. Brauer. The main result here is a block version of Huppert's \(\rho\text{-}\sigma\)-conjecture. More precisely, if \(B\) is a \(p\)-block of a finite solvable group, then it is shown that \(|\rho(B)|\leq 3\sigma(B)+1\). The proof uses Fong-Reynolds to reduce to the case that \(F(G)=O_{p'}(G)\times O_p(G)\) and \(B\) consists of Irr\((G\mid\varphi)\), for some \(\varphi\in\mathrm{Irr}(O_{p'}(G))\). Gaschütz theorem implies that \(F(G)/\Phi(G)\) is a completely reducible and faithful \(G/F(G)\)-module. The conclusion then follws from a case-by-case analysis.