Brauer characters and rationality. (Q2454431)

Let \(G\) be a finite group and let \(p\) be a prime. In this paper, it is proved that \(G\) has a non-trivial rational valued irreducible \(p\)-Brauer character if and only if \(G\) has a non-trivial rational element of order prime to \(p\). The proof relies on the classification of the finite simple groups. If \(p\) is odd, this follows easily from an earlier result of the authors [Math. Ann. 335, No. 3, 675-686 (2006; Zbl 1106.20006)]. For \(p=2\), if \(G\) does not have a rational irreducible \(2\)-Brauer, an earlier result of the authors and the reviewer [\textit{G. Navarro} et al., J. Pure Appl. Algebra 212, No. 3, 628-635 (2008; Zbl 1173.20007)] limits the possible composition factors of \(G\). Assuming that \(G\) has some rational element of odd order, the paper then constructs a rational irreducible \(2\)-Brauer character of \(G\).