On the computation of character values for finite Chevalley groups of exceptional type (Q6659653)

Let \(\mathbf{G}\) be a connected reductive algebraic group defined over a finite field \(\mathbb{F}_{q}\) and let \(\mathbf{G}^{F}=\mathbf{G}(\mathbb{F}_{q})\) be the finite group of all rational points of \(\mathbf{G}\) (\(F\) is the Frobenius map). The paper under review deals with computing the values of the irreducible characters of \(\mathbf{G}^{F}\). The work of \textit{G. Lusztig} (see [Characters of reductive groups over a finite field. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press (1984; Zbl 0556.20033); J. Am. Math. Soc. 5, No. 4, 971--986 (1992; Zbl 0773.20011); Represent. Theory 8, 145--178 (2004; Zbl 1075.20013)]) has led to a general program for solving this problem. In this framework, one seeks to establish certain identities of class functions on \(\mathbf{G}^{F}\) of the form \(R_{x}= \zeta \chi_{A}\). Here \(R_{x}\) denotes an almost character (that is, an explicitly defined linear combination of the irreducible characters of \(\mathbf{G}^{F}\)) and \(\chi_{A}\) denotes the characteristic function of a suitable \(F\)-invariant character sheaf \(A\) on \(\mathbf{G}\) (\(\zeta\) is an algebraic number of absolute value 1). This program has been successfully carried out in many cases, but not in full generality.\N\NThe paper under review is part of a project to complete the program of establishing identities \(R_{x}= \zeta \chi_{A}\) as above including the explicit determination of the scalars \(\zeta\). In particular, the author solves this problem in the case for \(\mathbf{G}\) simple of exceptional type and can therefore state: Let \(\mathbf{G}\) be simple of type \(\mathsf{G}_{2}\), \(\mathsf{F}_{4}\), \(\mathsf{E}_{6}\) or \(\mathsf{E}_{7}\). Then the scalars \(\zeta\) in the identities \(R_{x}=\zeta \chi_{A}\) for cuspidal unipotent character sheaves \(A\) are explicitly known. In all cases considered, there is a ``good'' choice of \(g_{1} \in \Sigma^{F}\) such that \(\zeta=1\) (where \(\Sigma\) is a unipotent class).