On a casimir element of a finite group (Q4344673)

The Casimir element of a finite dimensional symmetric \(F\)-algebra \(A\) is \(c=\sum_{i=1}^na_ib_i\), where \((a_1,\dots,a_n)\), \((b_1,\dots,b_n)\) is a pair of dual bases of \(A\) with respect to a given symmetrizing form. Assume that \(A=\mathbb{C} G\), \(\chi_i\) are the irreducible characters of \(G\) of degrees \(n_i\) and \(e_i\) are the corresponding central idempotents of \(\mathbb{C} G\). Then the authors show that \(c=\sum_i(\frac{n}{n_i})^2e_i=\sum_{a,b\in G}aba^{-1}b^{-1}\). Some consequences concerning the minimal polynomial of \(c\) and the character degrees of \(G\) are also derived.