Minimum polynomials and lower bounds for eigenvalue multiplicities of prime-power order elements in representations of classical groups (Q5949421)

This is one paper that is part of a major project to classify the situations where an element of prime power order in a finite group has a minimal polynomial of smaller degree than expected in some representation. In this paper, the authors consider \(G\) to be a classical group over a finite field of characteristic \(p\) and consider representations in any other characteristic. They consider elements \(g\in G\) of prime power order \(s\) (with \(s\) coprime to \(p\)) which stabilize a maximal totally isotropic subspace in the natural representation. The main result (Theorem 1.1) shows that the minimal polynomial has degree at least \(s-1\) and classify those situations where it is precisely of degree \(s-1\). They also give an asymptotic version of the result (Theorem 1.2). This is an important and natural problem and has various applications. The special case studied here has various similarities to the Hall-Higman theorem.