2.II.19G

Representation Theory
Part II, 2005

Let GG be a finite group and {χi}\left\{\chi_{i}\right\} the set of its irreducible characters. Also choose representatives gjg_{j} for the conjugacy classes, and denote by Z(gj)Z\left(g_{j}\right) their centralisers.

(i) State the orthogonality and completeness relations for the χk\chi_{k}.

(ii) Using Part (i), or otherwise, show that

iχi(gj)χi(gk)=δjkZ(gj)\sum_{i} \overline{\chi_{i}\left(g_{j}\right)} \cdot \chi_{i}\left(g_{k}\right)=\delta_{j k} \cdot\left|Z\left(g_{j}\right)\right|

(iii) Let AA be the matrix with Aij=χi(gj)A_{i j}=\chi_{i}\left(g_{j}\right). Prove that

detA2=jZ(gj)|\operatorname{det} A|^{2}=\prod_{j}\left|Z\left(g_{j}\right)\right|

(iv) Show that detA\operatorname{det} A is either real or purely imaginary, explaining when each situation occurs.

[Hint for (iv): Consider the effect of complex conjugation on the rows of the matrix A.]