On the \(p\)-blocks of symmetric and alternating groups and their covering groups (Q909788)

Let \(G\) denote one of the following groups: the double covering of a finite symmetric group, a finite alternating group or the double covering of a finite alternating group. Let \(B\) be a \(p\)-block of \(G\), \(p\ne 2\), \(k_r(B)\) be the number of irreducible characters in \(B\) of height \(r\) and \(k(B)=k_0(B)+k_1(B)+ \ldots \). Moreover let \(\Delta(B)\) be a defect group of \(B\) and \(\Delta (B)'\) its commutator subgroup. The author proves that (1) \(k(B)=k_0(B)\) if and only if \(\Delta(B)\) is abelian, (2) \(k(B) \le\text{ cardinality of }\Delta(B)\), (3) \(k_0(B)\le\text{ cardinality of }\Delta (B):\Delta (B)'\).