Rational group algebras of finite groups: from idempotents to units of integral group rings.

DOI10.1007/S10468-010-9244-4MaRDI QIDQ453559zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Eric Jespers, Gabriela Olteanu, Ángel del Río

Publication date 27 September 2012

Published in Algebras and Representation Theory (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1001.1236

finite nilpotent groups groups of units integral group rings primitive central idempotents rational group algebras Wedderburn decompositions

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Group rings (16S34) Units, groups of units (associative rings and algebras) (16U60) Group rings of finite groups and their modules (group-theoretic aspects) (20C05) Finite nilpotent groups, (p)-groups (20D15)

Abstract: We give an explicit and character-free construction of a complete set of orthogonal primitive idempotents of a rational group algebra of a finite nilpotent group and a full description of the Wedderburn decomposition of such algebras. An immediate consequence is a well-known result of Roquette on the Schur indices of the simple components of group algebras of finite nilpotent groups. As an application, we obtain that the unit group of the integral group ring

of a finite nilpotent group

G

has a subgroup of finite index that is generated by three nilpotent groups for which we have an explicit description of their generators. Another application is a new construction of free subgroups in the unit group. In all the constructions dealt with, pairs of subgroups

(H, K)

, called strong Shoda pairs, and explicit constructed central elements

e (G, H, K)

play a crucial role. For arbitrary finite groups we prove that the primitive central idempotents of the rational group algebras are rational linear combinations of such

e (G, H, K)

, with

(H, K)

strong Shoda pairs in subgroups of

G

.

Review text

Let \(\mathbb ZG\) be the integral group ring of a finite group \(G\). The authors give an explicit and character-free construction of a complete set of orthogonal primitive central idempotents of a rational group algebra of a finite nilpotent group and a full description of the Wedderburn decomposition applying results from the papers by \textit{E. Jespers, G. Leal} and \textit{A. Paques} [J. Algebra Appl. 2, No. 1, 57-62 (2003; Zbl 1064.20003)] and by \textit{A. Olivieri, Á. del Río} and \textit{J. J. Simón} [Commun. Algebra 32, No. 4, 1531-1550 (2004; Zbl 1081.20001)]. The primitive central idempotents are rational linear combinations of certain idempotents \(e(G,H,K)\), with \((H,K)\) strong Shoda pair subgroups of \(G\). For finite nilpotent groups \(G\) a complete set of matrix units is described for the component \(\mathbb QGe(G,H,K)\). As an application, if \(\mathbb QG\) does not have a direct component isomorphic to a noncommutative division algebra but a totally definite quaternion algebra, or a \(2\times2\) matrix algebra over the rationals, a quadratic imaginary extension of the rationals or over a noncommutative division algebra then the authors give three nilpotent subgroups of the group of units generating a subgroup of finite index. This result relies upon the celebrated theorem of Bass-Milnor-Serre-Vaserstein on the subgroup generated by elementary matrices being of finite index in the special linear group but in some exceptional cases. Furthermore, new constructions of free subgroups are provided.

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