Cartan matrices and Brauer's \(k(B)\)-conjecture. IV (Q2360952)

This is the fourth installment in a series of papers by the author on a well-known conjecture by Brauer known as Brauer's \(k(B)\)-problem which states that the number of irreducible ordinary characters in a \(p\)-block \(B\) of a finite group \(G\) is always bounded above by \(p^d\), where \(d\) is the defect of \(B\). In the paper under review, the author proves the conjecture under some special conditions, such as when the defect group of \(B\) is minimal nonabelian, or when the defect group of \(B\) has no large elementary abelian direct summands. The results extend some earlier work by other researchers. The proofs use results on fusion systems. For Part I--III see [the author , J. Algebra 331, No. 1, 416--427 (2011; Zbl 1230.20010); ibid. 337, No. 1, 345--362 (2011; Zbl 1243.20013); Manuscr. Math. 146, No. 3--4, 505--518 (2015; Zbl 1331.20010)].