Affirmative answer to a question of Feit. (Q912969)

Let \(R\) be a complete discrete valuation ring with algebraically closed residue field of prime characteristic \(p\), and let \(P\) be a finite \(p\)-group. A finitely generated \(RP\)-module \(M\) is called an endo-permutation \(RP\)-module if \(\text{End}_ R(M)\) contains an \(R\)-basis permuted under the natural action of \(P\). Such modules are known to play an important role in representation theory. The tensor product induces an Abelian group structure on the set of all isomorphism classes of indecomposable endo-permutation \(RP\)-modules with vertex \(P\). This defines the cap group of \(P\) over \(R\). The main result shows that this group is always finitely generated, generalizing a result by E. C. Dade for the case when \(P\) is Abelian. In particular, the torsion subgroup of the cap group is finite. Since self-dual indecomposable endo- permutation modules correspond to elements of order 1 or 2 in the cap group it follows easily that, for a fixed \(P\), there are only finitely many isomorphism classes of indecomposable self-dual endo-permutation \(RP\)-modules. This answers a question raised by W. Feit.