An explicit formula for the action of a finite group on a commutative ring

Let G be a finite group, k a commutative ring upon which G acts. For every subgroup H of G, the trace (or norm) map is defined. is onto if and only if there exists an element x_H such that . We will show that the existence of x_P for every subgroup P of prime order determines the existence of x_G by exhibiting an explicit formula for x_G in terms of the x_P, where P varies over prime order subgroups. Since is onto if and only if is, where g∈G is an arbitrary element, we need to take only one P from each conjugacy class. We will also show why a formula with less factors does not exist, and show that the existence or non-existence of some of the x_P’s (where we consider only one P from each conjugacy class) does not affect the existence or non-existence of the others.     

On a subalgebra of the centre of a group ring II

Let p be a prime, G a finite group with p | |G| and F a field of characteristic p. By we denote the F-subspace of the centre of the group ring FG spanned by the p-regular conjugacy class sums. J. Murray proved that is an algebra, if G is a symmetric or alternating group. This can be used for the computation of the block idempotents of FG. We proved that is an algebra if the Sylow-p-subgroups of G are abelian. Recently, Y. Fan and B. Külshammer generalized this result to blocks with abelian defect groups. Here, we show that is an algebra if the Sylow-2-subgroups of G are dihedral. Therefore and are algebras for all primes p and all prime powers q. Furthermore we prove that is an algebra for the simple Suzuki-groups Sz(q), where q is a certain power of 2 and p is an arbitrary prime dividing |Sz(q)|. Received: 18 May 2007     

The permutation class group of a finite group

Analogously to the projective class group, the permutation class group of a finite group π can be defined as the group of equivalence classes of direct summands of integral permutation modules modulo permutation modules. It is shown that this group behaves nicely with respect to localization and completion, which then is used to prove that contrary to the projective class group - it is not always a torsion group. More precisely, the rank of the permutation class of group is computed.     

The probability of generating a finite simple group

We show that two random elements of a finite simple groupG generateG with probability 1 as |G| . This settles a conjecture of Dixon.     

The probability of generating a finite linear group

We study the asymptotic behavior of the probability of generating a finite completely reducible linear group G of degree n with [ n] elements. In particular we prove that if 3/2 and n is large enough then [ n] randomly chosen elements that generate G modulo O²(G) almost certainly generate G itself.Received: 13 February 2003     

A commutative analogue of the group ring

Throughout, all rings R will be commutative with identity element. In this paper we introduce, for each finite group G, a commutative graded Z-algebra R_G. This classifies the G-invariant commutative R-algebra multiplications on the group algebra R[G] which are cocycles (in fact coboundaries) with respect to the standard “direct sum” multiplication and have the same identity element.In the case when G is an elementary Abelian p-group it turns out that R_G is closely related to the symmetric algebra over F_p of the dual of G. We intend in subsequent papers to explore the close relationship between G and R_G in the case of a general (possibly non-Abelian) group G.Here we show that the Krull dimension of R_G is the maximal rank r of an elementary Abelian subgroup E of G unless either E is cyclic or for some such E its normalizer in G contains a non-trivial cyclic group which acts faithfully on E via “scalar multiplication” in which case it is r+1.     

Orthogonal representations over finite fields and the chromatic number of graphs

We study the relationship between the minimum dimension of an orthogonal representation of a graph over a finite field and the chromatic number of its complement. It turns out that for some classes of matrices defined by a graph the 3-colorability problem is equivalent to deciding whether the class defined by the graph contains a matrix of rank 3 or not. This implies the NP-hardness of determining the minimum rank of a matrix in such a class. Finally we give for any class of matrices defined by a graph that is interesting in this respect a reduction of the 3-colorability problem to the problem of deciding whether or not this class contains a matrix of rank equal to three.The author is financially supported by the Cooperation Centre Tilburg and Eindhoven Universities.     

On certain quotients of the Green rings of dihedral 2-groups

In this paper we study the properties of Green rings of dihedral 2-groups, and in particular certain quotients of these Green rings introduced by Benson and Carlson. It is shown that these quotients can be realised as group rings over . The properties of the corresponding groups are investigated: they are shown to be abelian, torsion-free and infinitely generated. We also show how taking products of elements of these groups is related to the structure of the Auslander–Reiten quivers for dihedral 2-groups.     

Decomposition of the Witt-Burnside ring and Burnside ring of an abelian profinite group

Let G, H be abelian profinite groups whose orders are coprime and assume that q ranges over the set of integers. The aim of this paper is to establish an isomorphism of functors , where denotes the q-deformed Witt-Burnside ring functor of G introduced in [Y.-T. Oh, q-Deformation of Witt-Burnside rings, Math. Z. 207 (1) (2007) 151-191]. To do this, we first establish an isomorphism of functors , where denotes the q-deformed Burnside ring functor of G which was also introduced in [Y.-T. Oh, q-Deformation of Witt-Burnside rings, Math. Z. 207 (1) (2007) 151-191]. As an application, we derive a pseudo-multiplicative property of the q-Möbius function associated to the lattice of open subgroups of the direct sum of G and H.     

On computing the number of subgroups of a finite Abelian group

We consider the numberN _A (r) of subgroups of orderp ^r ofA, whereA is a finite Abelianp-group of type =₁,₂,..., _l ()), i.e. the direct sum of cyclic groups of order ⁱⁱ. Formulas for computingN _A (r) are well known. Here we derive a recurrence relation forN _A (r), which enables us to prove a conjecture of P. E. Dyubyuk about congruences betweenN _A (r) and the Gaussian binomial coefficient .     

On a combinatorial property of choice functions of finite sets

We consider choice functions k[X]→X, where X is a finite set and k[X] denotes the set of all k-subsets of X. We define a property of domination for such maps generalizing the classical case k=2 (tournaments) and prove the existence of a dominating element generalizing the existence of a 2-root (king) in the classical case.     

The rational group algebra of a normally monomial group

In this paper, a complete irredundant set of a class of strong Shoda pairs of a finite group G is computed. The algebraic structure of the rational group algebra of a normally monomial group is thus obtained. A necessary and sufficient condition for G to be normally monomial is derived. The main result is also illustrated by computing a complete set of primitive central idempotents and the explicit Wedderburn decomposition of the rational group algebra of some normally monomial groups.     

On the isomorphism of commutative group algebras

LetG andH be finite abelian groups and letF be an arbitrary field. One fundamental problem is that of determining necessary and sufficient conditions for the isomorphism of the group algebrasFG andFH. No solution has appeared in the literature. Nevertheless by combining the results of Berman, Perlis and Walker, Cohen, and Deskins and providing connecting arguments a complete solution can be obtained. It is the purpose of this note to present such a solution.     

Axiomatization of abelian-by-G groups for a finite group G

We show that, for each finite group G, there exists an axiomatization of the class of abelian-by-G groups with a single sentence. In the proof, we use the definability of the subgroups M ⁿ in an abelian-by-finite group M, and the Auslander-Reiten sequences for modules over an Artin algebra. Received: 15 March 1996 / Published online: 18 July 2001     

Broué's conjecture for non-principal 3-blocks of finite groups

In representation theory of finite groups, there is a well-known and important conjecture due to M. Broué. He conjectures that, for any prime p, if a p-block A of a finite group G has an abelian defect group D, then A and its Brauer correspondent p-block B of N_G(D) are derived equivalent. We demonstrate in this paper that Broué's conjecture holds for two non-principal 3-blocks A with elementary abelian defect group D of order 9 of the O'Nan simple group and the Higman-Sims simple group. Moreover, we determine these two non-principal block algebras over a splitting field of characteristic 3 up to Morita equivalence.     

On the space of subgroups of a compact group I

A theory of the family of closed subgroups of a compact topological group is developed, using the topological notion of a hyperspace. Basic properties of this “space of subgroups” are explored.     

On the space of subgroups of a compact group II

Let G be a compact group. Let S(G), C(G), N(G) be the spaces of closed subgroups, cosets of closed subgroups, normal closed subgroups (respectively) of G, with the Vietoris topology.Then: (1) S(G) and C(G) are never connected; (2) N(G) is always totally disconnected; (3) C(G) is totally disconnected if and only if G is totally disconnected; and (4) S(G) is totally disconnected if and only if G/Z(G) is totally disconnected.Further: for totally disconnected G (equivalently, profinite G) (5) S(G), C(G) and N(G) are κ-metrisable; (6) S(G), C(G) and N(G) are Dugundji compact if G has small weight; and (7) consequences for field extensions are derived.