On the index of a free abelian subgroup in the group of central units of an integral group ring. (Q2343507)

Let \(G\) be a finite normally monomial group, i.e. let every complex irreducible character of \(G\) be induced from a linear character of a normal subgroup of \(G\). Let \(U(\mathbb ZG)\) be the group of units of the integral group ring with center \(Z(U)\). As it is well-known, \(Z(U)\) is the direct product of \(Z(G)\) and a free abelian subgroup \(A\) of \(Z(U)\) of finite rank. \textit{E. Jespers, G. Olteanu, Á. del Río} and \textit{I. Van Gelder} [in J. Algebra 387, 99-116 (2013; Zbl 1294.16026)] determined the rank of \(A\) in terms of strong Shoda pairs of \(G\) when \(G\) is strongly monomial and gave a subset \(B\) of the group generated by generalized Bass units forming a virtual basis of \(Z(U)\). The authors in this paper determine a bound on the index of the subgroup generated by \(B\) in \(Z(U)\) in terms of strong Shoda pairs of \(G\). Results are applied to groups \(G\) of order \(p^n\), \(p\) prime, \(n\leq 4\), moreover, the rank of \(A\), and the Wedderburn decomposition of \(\mathbb QG\) are provided for these \(p\)-groups.