The Alperin weight conjecture for symmetric and general linear groups revisited (Q2182351)

\par Let \(G\) be a finite group and \(B\) be an \(r\)-block of \(G\) for a prime \(r\). The Alperin weight conjecture says that the number of irreducible Brauer characters in \(B\) is equal to the number of \(B\)-weights of \(G\). In work with \textit{J. Alperin} [J. Algebra 131, No. 1, 2--22 (1990; Zbl 0714.20007)], the author verified the conjecture for finite symmetric groups and certain general linear groups. That earlier work was numerical in nature. In this current work, the author constructs bijections between the relevant sets of objects. Let \(G\) be a finite symmetric group \(S(n)\). An \(r\)-block of \(G\) is characterized by an \(r\)-core partition, from which one associates a non-negative integer \(w_B\) called the \(r\)-weight of \(B\). Consider the set \({\mathcal S}_B\) of all \((r-1)\)-tuples of partitions whose orders sum to \(w_{B}\). The author defines a \(B\)-weight associated to such a tuple and shows that this gives a bijection between \({\mathcal S}_B\) and the set of \(B\)-weights. On the other hand, work of \textit{A. Lascoux} et al. [Commun. Math. Phys. 181, No. 1, 205--263 (1996; Zbl 0874.17009)] shows that the set \({\mathcal S}_B\) also encodes the set of irreducible Brauer characters in \(B\), thus giving a bijection between the weights and characters. The discussion is illustrated with some examples. The author then considers the case \(G = \mathrm{GL}(n,q)\), under the assumption that \(r\) is odd and does not divide \(q\). Here, an \(r\)-block \(B\) is classified by its Jordan label \((s,\kappa)\), consisting of a semisimple element and a product of partitions. The irreducible characters are also classified by Jordan labels. Let \({\mathcal E}(G,s)\) be the Lusztig series of those irreducible characters with labels starting with \(s\). Then \(B \cap {\mathcal E}(G,s)\) forms a basic set for \(B\), thus parameterizing the irreducible Brauer characters. Again, the author constructs an associated \(B\)-weight for each label and shows that every \(B\)-weight occurs as such. This is done through a reductive process based on factoring the set of labels over the set of monic irreducible polynomials in \({\mathbf F}_q[x]\) and reducing to a simpler group and block. Again, examples are given to illustrate the correspondence.