On distinct character degrees. (Q995388)

Let \(G\) be a finite group and let \(N\) be a normal subgroup of \(G\). The general problem is to determine those pairs such that the irreducible characters of \(G\) which do not have \(N\) in the kernel have distinct degrees, the author says that the pair has property (D). This was inspired by the work of \textit{Y. Berkovich, D. Chillag} and \textit{M. Herzog} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 115, No. 4, 955-959 (1992; Zbl 0822.20004)]; note the reference in the paper is wrong. They consider the situation when all the non-linear irreducible characters have distinct degrees, which is equivalent to choosing \(N\) to be the derived group. Their work derives from that of \textit{G. Seitz} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 19, 459-461 (1968; Zbl 0244.20010)]. In this paper, the author considers what happens when \(N\) is a minimal normal subgroup of \(G\). This has already been considered in the special case that \(N\) was a unique minimal normal subgroup by \textit{Y. Berkovich, I. M. Isaacs} and \textit{L. Kazarin} [J. Algebra 216, No. 2, 448-480 (1999; Zbl 0939.20005)]. The main theorem of the paper proves that if \(G\) is a soluble group and \(N\) is a minimal normal subgroup of \(G\) with \(|N|=p^a\) for some prime \(p\) and \((G,N)\) has property (D) then \((G,N)\) is a Camina pair and \(O_{p'}(G)=1\). Rather more precise information can be given but they are too detailed to give in this review. Notice that if \(M>N\) is a normal subgroup and \((G,N)\) has property (D) so has \((G,M)\). So some of these results apply to any normal \(M\). The author also discusses a conjecture due to \textit{R. J. Higgs} [Glasg. Math. J. 40, No. 3, 431-434 (1998; Zbl 0927.20007)], which was originally framed as a question about projective characters.