The Ekedahl invariants for finite groups (Q898173)

Let \(V\) be a finite dimension faithful linear representation of a finite group \(G\) over a field \(k\) of characteristic prime to the order of \(G\). Noether's problem asks whether the fixed field \(k(V)^G\) is rational over \(k\). The present article studies the Ekedahl invariants \(e_i(G), i\in \mathbb Z\) of a given group \(G\). The author shows that these invariants are trivial for every finite group in GL\(_3(k)\) and for the fifth discrete Heisenberg group \(H_5\). The Ekedahl invariant \(e_2(G)\) is closely related to the Bogomolov multiplier \(B_0(G)\) studied by Bogomolov, Saltman and many others. The Bogomolov multiplier \(B_0(G)\) in turn is related to Noether's problem in a sense that its triviality \((B_0(G)=0)\) is necessary for the positive answer to Noether's problem.