Certain irreducible characters over a normal subgroup (Q2360382)

In this paper, the authors prove the following two main theorems. Theorem A. Suppose \(N\) is a normal subgroup of the finite group \(G\). Let \(\lambda\) be an irreducible complex character of \(N\) (notation: \(\lambda\in \mathrm{Irr}(N)\)). Assume that if \(\chi,\psi\in \mathrm{Irr}(G)\) are irreducible constituents of the induced character \(\lambda G\), then there exists an \(\alpha\in\Aut(G)\) stabilizing \(N\), such that \(\chi^\alpha=\psi\). Then \(T/N\) is solvable, where \(T\) stands for the stabilizer of \(\lambda\) in \(G\). A complete proof of Theorem A does appear in this paper. See also \S1 of the paper for more historic contemplations. Observe that Theorem A is a generalization of the ``classical'' Howlett-Isaacs theorem on the solvability of finite groups of central type. As yet, the following remains unsolved: Is it true that, if all the irreducible characters of a finite group \(G\) lying over some \(G\)-invariant \(\lambda\in \mathrm{Irr}(N)\) have the same degree, then \(G/N\) is solvable? Here in this paper, one finds: Theorem B. Suppose \(G\) is \(\pi\)-separable and let \(N= O_\pi(G)\). Let \(\vartheta\in \mathrm{Irr}(N)\) be \(G\)-invariant. Then, all irreducible complex characters lying over \(\vartheta\) have equal degrees if and only if \(G/N\) is an abelian \(\pi'\)-group. The authors say, that in order to show the truth of Theorem B, deep machinery is needed. They show it all, which is very impressive. As ingredients we mention here the Schur multiplier of a simple finite group, the Glauberman correspondence as extracted from the papers of \textit{A. Turull} [Adv. Math. 217, No. 5, 2170--2205 (2008; Zbl 1149.20010); J. Algebra 321, No. 12, 3620--3642 (2009; Zbl 1186.20011); ``Endoisomorphisms and character triple isomorphism'', Preprint]. In summary, it is an important step in developing the theory of finite groups where characters are involved.