Zeroes of permutation characters with applications to prime splitting and Brauer groups (Q920152)

Let H,K be subgroups of the finite group G, \(text{core}_ GH=\cap_{g\in G}H^ g\), \(C_ G(H)=\cup_{g\in G}H^ g\), \(P_ G(H)=\{h^ g |\) \(h\in H\) of prime power order and \(g\in G\}\). The main result of the paper under review is the following Theorem. Suppose H is of index n and \(G/text{core}_ GH\cong A_ n\), \(n>5\) or \(S_ n\). If \(K\leq G\) with \(P_ G(K)\supseteq P_ G(H)\) then \(K\geq H^ g\) for some \(g\in G\). In particular, \(C_ G(K)\supseteq C_ G(H)\) implies \(K\geq H^ g\) for some \(g\in G.\) In the case of the relative Brauer groups the author gives the following interesting consequence. Let k be a number field with \(O_ k\) its ring of algebraic integers. If L is a finite extension of k let \[ S(k| L)=\{p\in Spec O_ k | \;p\text{ has a degree one factor in } L\}. \] The relative Brauer group Br(L/K) is the kernel of the natural map from the Brauer group in L to the Brauer group in L. Corollary. Suppose L is an extension of k of degree n. Let M be the normal closure of L over k. Assume \(Gal(M/k)\cong A_ n\), \(n>5\) or \(S_ n\). Let \(L'\) be another finite extension of k. (a) If \([Br(L'| k): Br(L'| k)\cap Br(L/k)]\) is finite, then \(L'\) is k-isomorphic to either L or k. (b) If \(S(k| L)\setminus S(k| L')\) is finite, then \(L'\) is k- isomorphic to either L or k.