Maximal class \(p\)-groups with large character degree gaps. (Q896030)

By \textit{A. Mann} [J. Algebra 300, No. 1, 2-9 (2006; Zbl 1104.20007)], it is shown that a \(p\)-group of maximal class admitting irreducible characters of degrees higher than \(p\), has at least one such character of degree \(\leq p^{{p+1\over 2}}\) when \(p\geq 5\). In the paper under review, a family of such groups has been constructed, thereby obtaining also that for these groups the bound is sharp. The examples are all \textit{normal monomial}, i.e. each irreducible character of such a \(p\)-group is induced by a linear character of a \textit{normal subgroup}. The construction of such a group is rather technical; among others, it uses the so-called ``Baer trick'' extensively [\textit{R. Baer}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 44, 357-386 (1938; Zbl 0020.00802)].