arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Leo Margolis.
We introduce a procedure based on computational algebraic geometry to determine whether two algebras are isomorphic. We then apply it to show that if $R$ is a commutative unital ring in which $2$ is not invertible, $G$ is a group of order dividing $64$ and $H$ some group, then an isomorphism of unital algebras $RG \cong RH$ implies an isomorphism of groups $G \cong H$.
Counterexamples to the Modular Isomorphism Problem were discovered recently. These are non-isomorphic finite $2$-groups $G$ and $H$ that have isomorphic group algebras over the field $\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$ and non-isomorphic group algebras over the $2$-adic integers $\mathbb{Z}_2$. We show that the groups $G$ and $H$ already have non-isomorphic group algebras over the ring $\mathbb{Z}/4\mathbb{Z}$.
The Modular Isomorphism Problem asks, if an isomorphism between modular group algebras of finite $p$-groups over a field $F$ implies an isomorphism of the group bases. We explore the differences of knowledge on the problem when $F$ is either assumed to be a prime field or a general field of characteristic $p$. After revising the literature and explaining reasons for the differences, we generalize some of the positive answers to the problem from the prime field case to the general case.
We obtain restrictions on units of even order in the integral group ring $\mathbb{Z}G$ of a finite group $G$ by studying their actions on the reductions modulo $4$ of lattices over the $2$-adic group ring $\mathbb{Z}_2G$. This improves the "lattice method" which considers reductions modulo primes $p$, but is of limited use for $p=2$ essentially due to the fact that $1\equiv -1 \ (\textrm{mod }2)$. Our methods yield results in cases where $\mathbb Z_2 G$ has blocks whose defect groups are Klein four groups or dihedral groups of order $8$. This allows us to disprove the existence of units of order $2p$ for almost simple groups with socle $\operatorname{PSL}(2,p^f)$ where $p^f\equiv \pm 3 \ (\textrm{mod } 8)$ and to answer the Prime Graph Question affirmatively for many such groups.
The question whether non-isomorphic finite $p$-groups can have isomorphic modular group algebras was recently answered in the negative by Garc\'ia-Lucas, Margolis and del R\'io [J. Reine Angew. Math. 783 (2022), pp. 269-274]. We embed these negative solutions in the class of two-generated finite $2$-groups with dihedral central quotient, and solve the original question for all groups within this class. As a result, we discover new negative solutions and simple algebra isomorphisms. At the same time, the positive solutions for most of the groups in this class give some insights what makes the negative solutions special.
Jespers and Sun conjectured that if a finite group $G$ has the property ND, i.e. for every nilpotent element $n$ in the integral group ring $\mathbb{Z}G$ and every primitive central idempotent $e \in \mathbb{Q}G$ one still has $ne \in \mathbb{Z}G$, then at most one of the simple components of the group algebra $\mathbb{Q} G$ has reduced degree bigger than $1$. With the exception of one very special series of groups we are able to answer their conjecture, showing that it is true - up to exactly one exception. To do so we first describe groups with the so-called SN property which was introduced by Liu and Passman in their investigation of the Multiplicative Jordan Decomposition for integral group rings. We then study further objects connected to the property ND. This concerns on one hand a certain section of the unit group of $\mathbb{Z} G$ which measures how far $G$ is from having ND and about which Jespers and Sun posed two further questions which we answer. On the other hand we introduce two properties which appeared naturally in these investigations: one is purely representation-theoretic, while the other can be regarded as indicating that it might be hard to decide ND. Among others we show these two notions are equivalent for groups with SN.
We show that the modular isomorphism problem has a positive answer for groups of nilpotency class 2 with cyclic center, i.e. that for such p-groups G and H an isomorphism between the group algebras FG and FH implies an isomorphism of the groups G and H for F the field of p elements. For groups of odd order this implication is also proven for F being any field of characteristic p. For groups of even order we need either to make an additional assumption on the groups or on the field.
The Modular Isomorphism Problem asks if an isomorphism of group algebras of two finite p-groups G and H over a field of characteristic p, implies an isomorhism of the groups G and H. We survey the history of the problem, explain strategies which were developed to study it and present the recent negative solution of the problem. The problem is also compared to other isomorphism problems for group rings and various question remaining open are included.
We show that elementary abelian direct factors can be disregarded in the study of the modular isomorphism problem. Moreover, we obtain four new series of abelian invariants of the group base in the modular group algebra of a finite $p$-group. Finally, we apply our results to new classes of groups.
We provide non-isomorphic finite 2-groups which have isomorphic group algebras over any field of characteristic 2, thus settling the Modular Isomorphism Problem.
We show that if the Sylow $p$-subgroup of a finite group $G$ is of order $p$, then the normalized unit group of the integral group ring of $G$ contains a normalized unit of order $pq$ if and only if $G$ contains an element of order $pq$, where $q$ is any prime. We use this result to answer the Prime Graph Question for most sporadic simple groups and some simple groups of Lie type, including a new infinite series of such groups. Our methods are based on the understanding of blocks of cyclic defect and Young tableaux combinatorics.
In this article, we review the proofs of the first Zassenhaus Conjecture on conjugacy of torsion units in integral group rings for the alternating groups of degree 5 and 6, by Luthar-Passi and Hertweck. We describe how the study of these examples led to the development of two methods -- the HeLP method and the lattice method. We exhibit these methods and summarize some results which were achieved using them. We then apply these methods to the study of the first Zassenhaus conjecture for the alternating group of degree 7 where only one critical case remains open for a full answer. Along the way we show in examples how recently obtained results can be combined with the methods presented and collect open problems some of which could be attacked using these methods.
For a finite group $G$ and $U: = U(\mathbb{Z}G)$, the group of units of the integral group ring of $G$, we study the implications of the structure of $G$ on the abelianization $U/U'$ of $U$. We pose questions on the connections between the exponent of $G/G'$ and the exponent of $U/U'$ as well as between the ranks of the torsion-free parts of $Z(U)$, the center of $U$, and $U/U'$. We show that the units originating from known generic constructions of units in $\mathbb{Z}G$ are well-behaved under the projection from $U$ to $U/U'$ and that our questions have a positive answer for many examples. We then exhibit an explicit example which shows that the general statement on the torsion-free part does not hold, which also answers questions from [BJJ$^+$18].
In the 1940's Graham Higman initiated the study of finite subgroups of the unit group of an integral group ring. Since then many fascinating aspects of this structure have been discovered. Major questions such as the Isomorphism Problem and the Zassenhaus Conjectures have been settled, leading to many new challenging problems. In this survey we review classical and recent results, sketch methods and list questions relevant for the state of the art.
The Prime Graph Question for integral group rings asks if it is true that if the normalized unit group of the integral group ring of a finite group $G$ contains an element of order $pq$, for some primes $p$ and $q$, also $G$ contains an element of that order. We answer this question for the three Conway sporadic simple groups after reducing it to a combinatorial question about Young tableaus and Littlewood-Richardson coefficients. This finishes work of V. Bovdi, A. Konovalov and S. Linton.
We use the theory of blocks of cyclic defect to prove that under a certain condition on the principal p-block of a finite group G the normalized unit group of the integral group ring of G contains an element of order pq if and only if so does G, for q a prime different from p. Using this we verify the Prime Graph Question for all alternating and symmetric groups and also for two sporadic simple groups.
Zassenhaus conjectured that any unit of finite order in the integral group ring $\mathbb{Z}G$ of a finite group $G$ is conjugate in the rational group algebra of $G$ to an element in $\pm G$. We review the known weaker versions of this conjecture and introduce a new condition, on the partial augmentations of the powers of a unit of finite order in $\mathbb{Z}G$, which is weaker than the Zassenhaus Conjecture but stronger than its other weaker versions. We prove that this condition is satisfied for units mapping to the identity modulo a nilpotent normal subgroup of $G$. Moreover, we show that if the condition holds then the HeLP Method adopts a more friendly form and use this to prove the Zassenhaus Conjecture for a special class of groups.
H.J. Zassenhaus conjectured that any unit of finite order in the integral group ring $\mathbb{Z}G$ of a finite group $G$ is conjugate in the rational group algebra $\mathbb{Q}G$ to an element of the form $\pm g$ with $g \in G$. Though known for some series of solvable groups, the conjecture has been proved only for thirteen non-abelian simple groups. We prove the Zassenhaus Conjecture for the groups $\operatorname{PSL}(2,p)$, where $p$ is a Fermat or Mersenne prime. This increases the list of non-abelian simple groups for which the conjecture is known by probably infinitely many, but at least by 49, groups. Our result is an easy consequence of known results and our main theorem which states that the Zassenhaus Conjecture holds for a unit in $\mathbb{Z}\operatorname{PSL}(2,q)$ of order coprime with $2q$, for some prime power $q$.