On the character tables of the finite reductive groups \(E_6(q)_{ad}\) and \({}^2E_6 (q)_{\mathrm{ad}}\) (Q7294308)

The paper gives a concrete procedure for constructing the character tables of the finite reductive groups \(E_6(q)_{\mathrm{ad}}\) and \({}^2E_6(q)_{\mathrm{ad}}\) when \(q\) is a power of \(2\). Partial results are also obtained whenever \(q\) is not divisible by \(3\).\N\NFor each \(F\)-stable conjugacy class \(\Sigma\), the method constructs suitable bases of the space of class functions on \(G^F\) supported on \(\Sigma^F\). The main difficulty concerns the common support of the six cuspidal character sheaves, where \(A_G(g_0)\cong C_3\times C_3\) and the centraliser of the semisimple part of \(g_0\) is disconnected. The argument combines uniform functions and characteristic functions of cuspidal character sheaves, together with general results for semisimple groups which are not of simply connected type.\N\NIn characteristic \(2\), these results and computations using CHEVIE provide the data required to construct the character tables. The values of the unipotent characters on unipotent elements are also determined for groups of type \(D_4\) and \(D_5\). The resulting character tables are not printed explicitly.