The essential dimension of the normalizer of a maximal torus in the projective linear group (Q2270644)

Let \(G\) be an algebraic group over a field \(k\). Write \(\mathrm{ed}(G;p)\) for the essential \(p\)-dimension of \(G\), introduced by \textit{Z. Reichstein} and \textit{B. Youssin} [Can. J. Math. 52, No. 5, 1018--1056 (2000; Zbl 1044.14023)], see also \textit{A. S. Merkurjev} [Contemp. Math. 493, 299--325 (2009; Zbl 1188.14006)]. It is roughly speaking the number of independent parameters needed to write down \(G\)-torsors over field extensions of \(k\) up to prime to \(p\) extensions. In the paper under review the algebraic group under consideration is the normalizer \(N\simeq \mathbb{G}_m^{n-1}\rtimes S_n\) of a split maximal torus in \(\mathrm{PGL}_n\) over a field of characteristic not \(p\). The main result of this paper is the computation of the exact value for \(\mathrm{ed}(N;p)\). Moroever, a theorem of T. Springer asserts that every \(\mathrm{PGL}_n\)-torsor lifts to a \(N\)-torsor, which implies the inequality \(\mathrm{ed}(N;p)\geq \mathrm{ed}(\mathrm{PGL}_n;p)\). The authors use this inequality to improve the previously best known upper bound on \(\mathrm{ed}(\mathrm{PGL}_n;p)\) in case \(p^2\mid n\). More recently \textit{M. MacDonald} [Transform. Groups, doi: 10.1007/s00031-011-9157-2 (2011)] has computed the essential \(p\)-dimension of the normalizer of a split maximal torus in almost every simple algebraic group. In a recent preprint the authors of this paper together with M. MacDonald and the reviewer have established lower and upper bounds on \(\mathrm{ed}(G;p)\) for any algebraic group \(G\) whose connected component \(G^0\) is a torus. These bounds are given by the dimensions of certain representations. In the case of the algebraic groups \(N\simeq \mathbb{G}_m^{n-1}\rtimes S_n\) considered in this paper, the upper and lower bound coincide except in the case \(p=n\), where additional arguments are required.