Bilinear forms for \(SL(2,q)\), \(\widetilde A_ n\) and similar groups (Q2366864)

In the paper under review the set of invariant symmetric bilinear forms on irreducible modules over fields of characteristic zero for certain groups is studied. One nice consequence of the main results is the following: Let \(G\) be isomorphic to \(\text{SL}(2,q)\), \(q\) odd, or to some double cover of the symmetric group \(S_ n\) or the alternating group \(A_ n\), \(n \geq 4\). Let \(M\) be an irreducible faithful \(FG\)-module, where \(F\) is a real field and the character of \(M\) is a multiple of some irreducible character of \(G\). Then there is a symmetric \(G\)-invariant bilinear form on \(M\) under which \(M\) has an orthonormal basis.