Nonsolvable \(D_2\)-groups. (Q889440)

The paper under review is a contribution to the study of finite groups almost all of whose irreducible nonlinear complex characters have different degrees. More precisely, for a nonnegative integer \(k\) a finite group \(G\) is called a \(D_k\)-group if there are just \(k\) more such characters than there are degrees from such characters. There already exist classifications of \(D_0\)- and \(D_1\)-groups, and the purpose of this paper is to classify the nonsolvable \(D_2\)-groups. The main result is that up to isomorphism, \(S_5\), \(A_6\), \(A_7\), \(A_9\), \(M_{22}\), or \(A_{10}\) are the only nonsolvable \(D_2\)-groups. The proof, not unexpectedly, is long and relies on CFSG. It first deals with simple groups, then perfect groups and finally the general case.