Polynomial properties in unitriangular matrices (Q5952292)

Let \({\mathcal G}_n(q)\) denote a Sylow \(p\)-subgroup of the general linear group \(\text{GL}(n,q)\) where \(q\) is a power of the prime \(p\). It was conjectured by \textit{G. Higman} [see Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 10, 24-30 (1960; Zbl 0093.02603)] that for fixed \(n\) the number of conjugacy classes of \({\mathcal G}_n(q)\) is a polynomial expression in \(q\). In the present paper the authors show that, for each integer \(s\) with \(0<s\leq n-3\), the number of conjugacy classes in \({\mathcal G}_n(q)\) of size \(q^s\) is equal to a polynomial expression \(f_s(q-1)\) in \(q-1\). This polynomial is of degree \(\lfloor\sqrt{2s}+1\rfloor\) with non-negative integral coefficients, and is independent of \(n\). The coefficients of these polynomials are described via generating series, and their precise values are determined for \(s\leq 20\). The results are based on an earlier paper of the authors [\textit{A. Vera-López} and \textit{J. M. Arregi}, J. Algebra 177, No. 3, 899-925 (1995; Zbl 0839.20061)] for calculating canonical representatives of the conjugacy classes.