The general FF-module theorem. (Q427747)

Let \(G\) be a group with \(O_p(G)=F^*(G)\) and \(S\) be a Sylow \(p\)-subgroup. If \([J(S),\Omega_1(Z(O_p(G)))]=1\), then \(G=C_G(\Omega_1(Z(S)))N_G(J(S))\). If \([J(S),\Omega_1(Z(O_p(G)))]\neq 1\), then there is a maximal elementary Abelian subgroup \(A\) of \(S\) with \([A,\Omega_1(Z(O_p(G)))]\neq 1\) and \[ |A/C_A(\Omega_1(Z(O_p(G))))|\geq |\Omega_1(Z(O_p(G)))/C_{\Omega_1(Z(\Omega_p(G)))}(A)|. \] In fact by the well-known Thompson-replacement one also may choose \(A\) with \(|\Omega_1 (Z(O_p(G))),A,A]=1\). Hence we call an \(\mathbb{F}_p\)-module \(V\) for a group \(M\) an FF-module (failure of factorization) if there is an elementary Abelian \(p\)-subgroup \(A\) of \(G\) such that \([A,V]\neq 1\) and \(|V/C_V(A)|\leq|A/C_A(V)|\). There is a long history of papers dealing with irreduble FF-modules. Using the relation to quadratic modules \textit{J. G. Thompson} [Actes Congr. internat. Math. 1970, 1, 375-376 (1971; Zbl 0236.20024)] and \textit{A. A. Premet} and \textit{I. D. Suprunenko} [Math. Nachr. 110, 65-96 (1983; Zbl 0522.20027)] determined these modules for \(p\geq 5\). In [Commun. Algebra 19, No. 12, 3193--3222 (1991; Zbl 0822.20010)] \textit{Th. Meixner} determined the FF-modules for groups of Lie type in characteristic \(3\) and \(p=3\). For \(p=2\) and \(M\) a group of Lie type in characteristic \(2\) this has been done by \textit{B. N. Cooperstein} [Commun. Algebra 6, 1239-1288 (1978; Zbl 0377.20039)]. Lateron Guralnick, Lawther and Malle received as a corollary of a classification of the 2F-modules for nearly simple groups also one for FF-modules [\textit{R. M. Guralnick} and \textit{G. Malle}, J. Algebra 257, No. 2, 348-372 (2002; Zbl 1017.20005); \textit{R. M. Guralnick}, \textit{R. Lawther} and \textit{G. Malle}, J. Algebra 307, No. 2, 643-676 (2007; Zbl 1115.20002); \textit{R. M. Guralnick} and \textit{G. Malle}, Finite groups 2003. Proceedings of the Gainesville conference on finite groups, Gainesville, USA, 2003. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. 117-183 (2004; Zbl 1085.20004)]. Recall that the paper of \textit{J. G. Thompson} [loc. cit.] and so the classification of the irreducible FF-modules for \(p\geq 5\) is independent of the classification of the finite simple groups. In this paper, which depends on the classification of the finite simple groups, the authors drop the assumption of irreducibility and focus more on the possible subgroups \(A\) and the action on \(V\). The results are technical and long, so they cannot be stated here.