Character Theory of Finite Groups with Trivial Intersection Subsets

Abstract

This paper arose out of an effort to present a result which simplifies the application of the theory of blocks to what is often called the theory of exceptional characters. In order to obtain the most effective use of this result, it is necessary to reformulate part of this theory. Thus we present a development which explains an application of R. Brauer’s main theorem on generalized decomposition numbers. In particular, we improve a result of D. Gorenstein and the author [8; Proposition 25]. These results are needed in a forthcoming paper and will simplify somewhat the use of this theory in existing papers. We are interested principally in determining the values of certain irreducible characters on trivial intersection subsets. The organization of the theory presented here is influenced by an exposition of M. Suzuki [13] and uses concepts introduced by W. Feit and J. G. Thompson [7]. Also it is hoped that this exposition will serve as an introduction to the theory.