The generalized Burnside ring of a finite group (Q807742)

Let G be a finite group and let \({\mathcal X}\) be a family of subgroups which is closed under G-conjugation. Let \(\Omega\) (G,\({\mathcal X})\) denote the free abelian group on the isomorphism classes of G-sets, [G/S], with \(S\in {\mathcal X}\). Sending a finite G-set to the order of its S-fixed points yields a map, \(\phi\) : \(\Omega\) (G,\({\mathcal X})\to \prod_{(S)}{\mathbb{Z}}\), where the indexing set consists of all G-conjugacy classes, (S), of \(S\in {\mathcal X}\). \(\Omega\) (G,\({\mathcal X})\) is called a generalized Burnside ring if \(\phi\) is injective and its image is a subring. The classical Burnside ring is the case when \({\mathcal X}\) consists of all subgroups of G. The author gives conditions for \(\Omega\) (G,\({\mathcal X})\) to be a generalized Burnside ring and studies its primitive idempotents, prime ideals and its Mackey-functor structure. Applications of the theory are given to reprove some of the results of \textit{K. S. Brown} and \textit{J. Thévenaz} [J. Algebra 115, 414-430 (1988; Zbl 0639.20012)] and to generalized Hecke categories of Mackey functors and their representations.