The Projective Cover of the Trivial Module Over a Group Algebra of a Finite Group

We determine all finite groups G such that the Loewy length (socle length) of the projective cover P(k _G ) of the trivial kG-module k _G is four, where k is a field of characteristic p > 0 and kG is the group algebra of G over k, by using previous results and also the classification of finite simple groups. As a by-product we prove also that if p = 2 then all finite groups G such that the Loewy lengths of the principal block algebras of kG are four, are determined.     

Solvable infinite-dimensional linear groups with restrictions on the nonabelian subgroups of infinite rank

Under study are the solvable nonabelian linear groups of infinite central dimension and sectional p-rank, p ≥ 0, in which all proper nonabelian subgroups of infinite sectional p-rank have finite central dimension. We describe the structure of the groups of this class.     

Linear groups with rank restrictions on the subgroups of infinite central dimension

The authors study linear groups of infinite central dimension and of infinite p-rank all of whose proper subgroups of infinite p-rank are of finite central dimension.     

Homology of perfect complexes

It is proved that the sum of the Loewy lengths of the homology modules of a finite free complex F over a local ring R is bounded below by a number depending only on R. This result uncovers, in the structure of modules of finite projective dimension, obstructions to realizing R as a closed fiber of some flat local homomorphism. Other applications include, as special cases, uniform proofs of known results on free actions of elementary abelian groups and of tori on finite CW complexes. The arguments use numerical invariants of objects in general triangulated categories, introduced here and called levels. They allow one to track, through changes of triangulated categories, homological invariants like projective dimension, as well as structural invariants like Loewy length. An intermediate result sharpens, with a new proof, the New Intersection Theorem for commutative algebras over fields. Under additional hypotheses on the ring R stronger estimates are proved for Loewy lengths of modules of finite projective dimension.     

Representation dimension of exterior algebras

We determine the representation dimension of exterior algebras. This provides the first known examples of representation dimension > 3. We deduce that the Loewy length of the group algebra over F₂ of a finite group is strictly bounded below by the 2-rank of the group (a conjecture of Benson). A key tool is the use of the concept of dimension of a triangulated category.     

On the Loewy length of the center of a block with elementary abelian defect groups

Let G be a finite group and k an algebraically closed field of characteristic p. In this paper we investigate the Loewy structure of centers of indecomposable group algebras kG, for groups G with a normal elementary abelian Sylow p-subgroup. Furthermore, we show a reduction result for the case that a normal abelian Sylow p-subgroup is acted upon by a subgroup of its automorphism group; this is fundamental in providing generic formulae for the Loewy lengths considered.     

A CM construction for curves of genus 2 with p-rank 1

We construct Weil numbers corresponding to genus-2 curves with p-rank 1 over the finite field Fp² of p² elements. The corresponding curves can be constructed using explicit CM constructions. In one of our algorithms, the group of Fp²-valued points of the Jacobian has prime order, while another allows for a prescribed embedding degree with respect to a subgroup of prescribed order. The curves are defined over Fp² out of necessity: we show that curves of p-rank 1 over Fp for large p cannot be efficiently constructed using explicit CM constructions.     

Asymptotically good towers of function fields with small p-rank

Over any quadratic finite field we construct function fields of large genus that have simultaneously many rational places, small p-rank, and many automorphisms.     

Irreducibility and p-adic monodromies on the Siegel moduli spaces

We generalize the surjectivity result of the p-adic monodromy for the ordinary locus of a Siegel moduli space by Faltings and Chai (independently by Ekedahl) to that for any p-rank stratum. We discuss irreducibility and connectedness of some p-rank strata of the moduli spaces with parahoric level structure. Finer results are obtained on the Siegel 3-fold with Iwahori level structure.     

Varieties and cohomology of infinitely generated modules

Suppose that k is a field of characteristic p and that G is a finite group having p-rank at least three. Given a regular sequence of length 2 in H*(G, k), we show how to construct an infinitely generated module whose support variety is strictly smaller than the small support of its cohomology. Received: 25 January 2008     

The p-rank stratification on the Siegel moduli space with Iwahori level structure

Our concern in this paper is to describe the p-rank stratification on the Siegel moduli space with Iwahori level structure over fields of positive characteristic. We calculate the dimension of the strata and describe the closure of a given stratum in terms of p-rank strata. We also examine the relationship between the p-rank stratification and the Kottwitz–Rapoport stratification.     

On the p-rank of Ext(A,B) for countable abelian groups A and B

In this note we show that the p-rank of Ext(A,B) for countable torsion-free abelian groups A and B is either countable or the size of the continuum.     

p-Rank and semi-stable reduction of curves

Let R be a discrete complete valuation ring, with field of fractions K, and with algebraically closed residue field k of characteristic p > 0. Let X be a germ of an R-curve at an ordinary double point. Consider a finite Galois covering f: Y → X, whose Galois group G is a p-group, such that Y is normal, and which is étale above X_k≔ x × _rk. Asume that Y has a semi-stable model :→ Y over R, and let y be a closed point of Y. If the inertia subgroup I(y) at y is cyclic of order pⁿ, we compute the p-rank of tf⁻¹ (y) by using a result of Raynaud. In particular, we prove that this p-rank is bounded by pⁿ −1.     

Modules over group rings of solvable groups with rank restrictions on subgroups

Let A be an R G-module over a commutative ring R, where G is a group of infinite section p-rank (0-rank), C _G (A) = 1, A is not a Noetherian R-module, and the quotient A/C _A (H) is a Noetherian R-module for every proper subgroup H of infinite section p-rank (0-rank). We describe the structure of solvable groups G of this type.     

On the permutation groups of cyclic codes

We classify the permutation groups of cyclic codes over a finite field. As a special case, we find the permutation groups of non-primitive BCH codes of prime length. In addition, the Sylow p-subgroup of the permutation group is given for many cyclic codes of length p ^m . Several examples are given to illustrate the results.     

On some ranks of infinite groups

Abstract A group G has finite Hirsch-Zaicev rank r_hz(G) = r if G has an ascending series whose factors are either infinite cyclic or periodic and if the number of infinite cyclic factors is exactly r. The authors discuss groups with finite Hirsch-Zaicev rank and the connection between this and groups having finite section p-rank for some prime p, or p=0. Groups all of whose abelian subgroups are of bounded rank are also discussed. Keywords: p-rank, locally generalized radical group, Hirsch-Zaicev rank, torsion-free rank, rank Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 20F19, 20E25, 20E15     

Torsion-free constructive nilpotent <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis></Subscript>-groups

We consider a torsion-free nilpotent R _p -group, the p-rank of whose quotient by the commutant is equal to 1 and either the rank of the center by the commutant is infinite or the rank of the group by the commutant is finite. We prove that the group is constructivizable if and only if it is isomorphic to the central extension of some divisible torsion-free constructive abelian group by some torsion-free constructive abelian R _p -group with a computably enumerable basis and a computable system of commutators. We obtain similar criteria for groups of that type as well as divisible groups to be positively defined. We also obtain sufficient conditions for the constructivizability of positively defined groups.     

Affine geometry designs, polarities, and Hamada's conjecture

In a recent paper, two of the authors used polarities in PG(2d−1,p) (p?2 prime, d?2) to construct non-geometric designs having the same parameters and the same p-rank as the geometric design PGd(2d,p) having as blocks the d-subspaces in the projective space PG(2d,p), hence providing the first known infinite family of examples where projective geometry designs are not characterized by their p-rank, as it is the case in all known proven cases of Hamada's conjecture. In this paper, the construction based on polarities is extended to produce designs having the same parameters, intersection numbers, and 2-rank as the geometric design AGd+1(2d+1,2) of the (d+1)-subspaces in the binary affine geometry AG(2d+1,2). These designs generalize one of the four non-geometric self-orthogonal 3-(32,8,7) designs of 2-rank 16 (V.D. Tonchev, 1986 [12]), and provide the only known infinite family of examples where affine geometry designs are not characterized by their rank.     

The p-rank strata of the moduli space of hyperelliptic curves

We prove results about the intersection of the p-rank strata and the boundary of the moduli space of hyperelliptic curves in characteristic p?3. This yields a strong technique that allows us to analyze the stratum of hyperelliptic curves of genus g and p-rank f. Using this, we prove that the endomorphism ring of the Jacobian of a generic hyperelliptic curve of genus g and p-rank f is isomorphic to Z if g?4. Furthermore, we prove that the Z/?-monodromy of every irreducible component of is the symplectic group Sp2g(Z/?) if g?3, and ?≠p is an odd prime (with mild hypotheses on ? when f=0). These results yield numerous applications about the generic behavior of hyperelliptic curves of given genus and p-rank over finite fields, including applications about Newton polygons, absolutely simple Jacobians, class groups and zeta functions.     

On Tame Kernels and Ideal Class Groups

It is well known that there is a close connection between tame kernels and ideal class groups of number fields. However, the latter is a very difficult subject in number theory. In this paper, we prove some results connecting the p^n-rank of the tame kernel of a cyclic cubic field F with the p^n-rank of the coinvariants of μp^n×CI（δE,T） under the action of the Galois group, where E = F（ζp^n ） and T is the finite set of primes of E consisting of the infinite primes and the finite primes dividing p. In particular, if F is a cyclic cubic field with only one ramified prime and p = 3, n = 2, we apply the results of the tame kernels to prove some results of the ideal class groups of E, the maximal real subfield of E and F（ζ3）.