On integral representations for \(\text{SL}(2,q)\) (Q5945134)

Let \(\mu_n\) be a complex primitive \(n\)-th root of unity. If \(G\) is a finite group of exponent \(g\), then a theorem of Brauer asserts that every irreducible complex representation of \(G\) can be realized over \(\mathbb{Q}(\mu_g)\). It has been conjectured that one can even replace \(\mathbb{Q}(\mu_g)\) by \(\mathbb{Z}(\mu_g)\). This conjecture has been proved for solvable groups by \textit{G. Cliff, J. Ritter}, and \textit{A. Weiss} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 426, 193-202 (1992; Zbl 0739.20002)]. In [J. Aust. Math. Soc., Ser. A 63, No. 1, 1-15 (1997; Zbl 0887.20003)] \textit{W. Knapp} and \textit{P. Schmid} showed that the conjecture essentially reduces to the case \(G\) is quasisimple. The present paper studies the case \(G=\text{SL}(2,q)\) with \(q\) a power of a prime \(p\). It is shown that every irreducible complex representation of \(\text{SL}(2,q)\) can be realized over some \(\mathbb{Z}(\mu_n)\) with \(n\) a proper divisor of \(\exp(G)\), except possibly for the representations of degree \(q-1\). The author also shows that the representations of degree \(q-1\) can be realized over \(\mathbb{Z}[\mu_n,1/p]\) with \(n=\exp(G)/p\). On the other hand, he shows that the conjecture is true for \(q=p\).