The Brauer-Clifford group. (Q837019)

Let \(G\) be a finite group, \(F\) a field, and \(Z\) a commutative central simple \(G\)-algebra. In this paper the author introduces the Brauer-Clifford group \(\text{BrCliff}(G,Z)\). This group consists of certain equivalence classes of central simple \(G\)-algebras, and the product is associated with the tensor product of algebras. It is shown to ``control'' the Clifford theory with fields of values over \(F\) and Schur indices over \(F\) for groups and normal subgroups whose quotient is \(G\). It has a natural homomorphism into a Brauer group, and the kernel of this homomorphism is the set of all equivalence classes of \(G\)-algebras which are full matrix algebras. The Brauer-Clifford group extends the notion of Clifford classes introduced by the author [in J. Algebra 170, No. 2, 661-677 (1994; Zbl 0813.20010)], and it is crucial in the author's proof of a strengthening of the McKay conjecture for \(p\)-solvable groups [in Adv. Math. 217, No. 5, 2170-2205 (2008; Zbl 1149.20010)].