Fischer-clifford matrices and character tables of inertia groups of maximal subgroups of finite simple groups of extension type

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to calculate character tables of group extensions. There are several well–developed methods for calculating the character tables of group extensions. In this dissertation we study the method developed by Bernd Fischer, the so–called Fischer–Clifford matrices method, which derives its fundamentals from the Clifford theory. We consider only extensions G of the normal subgroup K by the subgroup Q with the property that every irreducible character of K can be extended to an irreducible character of its inertia group in G, if K is abelian. This is indeed the case if G is a split extension, by a well-known theorem of Mackey. A brief outline of the classical theory of characters pertinent to this study, is followed by a discussion on the calculation of the conjugacy classes of extension groups by the method of coset analysis. The Clifford theory which provide the basis for the theory of Fischer-Clifford matrices is discussed in detail. Some of the properties of these Fischer-Clifford matrices which make their calculation much easier are also given. As mentioned earlier we restrict ourselves to split extension groups G in which K is always elementary abelian. In this thesis we are concerned with the construction of the character tables of certain groups which are associated with Fi₂₂ and Sp₈ (2). Both of these groups have a maximal subgroup of the form 2⁷: Sp₆ (2) but they are not isomorphic to each other. In particular we are interested in the inertia groups of these maximal subgroups, which are split extensions. We use the technique of the Fischer-Clifford matrices to construct the character tables of these inertia groups. These inertia groups of 2⁷ : Sp₆(2), the maximal subgroup of Fi₂₂, are 2⁷ : S₈, 2⁷ : Ο⁻₆(2) and 2⁷ : (2⁵ : S₆). The inertia group of 2⁷ : Sp₆(2), the affine subgroup of Sp₈(2), is 2⁷ : (2⁵ : S₆) which is not isomorphic to the group with the same form which was mentioned earlier.