A lower bound for the representation dimension of \(kC_p^n\). (Q2466799)

Let \(C_p\) denote the cyclic group of prime order \(p\). For a field \(k\) of characteristic \(p\), the author proves that the representation dimension of the group ring \(kC_p^n\) is strictly greater than \(n\). This generalizes Rouquier's first example of an algebra (the case \(p=2\)) of arbitrarily large representation dimension. The author's proof partly follows Rouquier's method of estimating the dimension of the stable category from below. As an application, a lower bound for the representation dimension of any block \(B\) of a group algebra in terms of the \(p\)-rank of a defect group \(D\) is established. This implies Benson's conjecture which states that the Loewy length of \(B\) is strictly greater than the \(p\)-rank of \(D\).