Quasi-simple groups all of whose non-principal blocks are of defect zero (Q524632)

Let \(p\) be a prime number. The set of the complex irreducible characters of a finite group \(G\) can be partitioned into a disjoint union of the so-called \(p\)-blocks of \(G\). To each \(p\)-block \(B\) of \(G\), a certain \(p\)-subgroup \(D\) can be associated, the defect group of \(B\), being unique up to \(G\)-conjugation. When the order of \(D\) is \(p^d\), then the integer \(d\) is called the \textit{defect} of \(B\). Definition: Let \(r\) be a nonnegative integer. The finite group \(G\) is said to be of \textit{\(p\)-deficiency class} \(r\) if all non-principal \(p\)-blocks of \(G\) have defect less than \(r\). Let us abbreviate ``\(p\)-deficiency class \(n\)'' here, by means of \(p\)-\(\mathrm{df}(n)\). In the introduction of this paper, the authors mention the following 1) \(p\)-\(\mathrm{df}(G)= 0\Leftrightarrow G\) has only one \(p\)-block. 2) \(p\)-\(\mathrm{df}(G)=1\Leftrightarrow\) all non-principle \(p\)-blocks of \(G\) are defect zero. 3) [\textit{P. Fong} and \textit{W. Gaschütz}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 208, 73--78 (1961; Zbl 0100.25801)]. Suppose \(G\) is solvable. Then \[ p\text{-}\mathrm{df}(G)=0 \Leftrightarrow O_{p'}(G)= 1. \] 4) [\textit{P. Brockhaus} and \textit{G. O. Michler}, J. Algebra 94, 113--125 (1985; Zbl 0608.20004)]. There is no simple group \(S\) such \(p\)-\(\mathrm{df}(S)= 0\) when \(p\geq 3\). 5) [\textit{M. E. Harris}, J. Algebra 94, 411--424 (1985; Zbl 0602.20013)]. Any finite group \(G\) with \(p\)-\(\mathrm{df}(G)=0\) has \(F^*(G)= O_p(G)\) when \(p\) is an od prime, and conversely. 6) [Harris, loc. cit.]. Any finite group \(G\) with \(2\)-\(\mathrm{df}(G)= 0\) has \(O_{2'}(G)= 1\) and all components of \(G\) are of type \(M_{22}\) an \(M_{24}\); the converse statement holds, too. 7) [Harris, loc. cit.]. The finite simple groups \(S\) with \(p\)-\(\mathrm{df}(S)=1\) are classified for \(p=2\). Harris' investigations induced the authors of the paper under review to deal with the \(p\)-\(\mathrm{df}(G)= 1\) case for \(p\) being an odd prime. They succeed when \(G\) is a quasi-simple group. We omit the details here. Besides that, the authors show a lot of results that all have to do with \(p\)-deficiency problems.