Paper 4, Section II, F

Representation Theory
Part II, 2009

Let HGH \leqslant G be finite groups.

(a) Let ρ\rho be a representation of GG affording the character χ\chi. Define the restriction, ResHGρ\operatorname{Res}_{H}^{G} \rho of ρ\rho to HH.

Suppose χ\chi is irreducible and suppose ResHGρ\operatorname{Res}_{H}^{G} \rho affords the character χH\chi_{H}. Let ψ1,,ψr\psi_{1}, \ldots, \psi_{r} be the irreducible characters of HH. Prove that χH=d1ψ1++drψr\chi_{H}=d_{1} \psi_{1}+\cdots+d_{r} \psi_{r}, where the nonnegative integers d1,,drd_{1}, \ldots, d_{r} satisfy the inequality

i=1rdi2G:H\sum_{i=1}^{r} d_{i}^{2} \leqslant|G: H|

Prove that there is equality in (1) if and only if χ(g)=0\chi(g)=0 for all elements gg of GG which lie outside HH.

(b) Let ψ\psi be a class function of HH. Define the induced class function, IndHGψ\operatorname{Ind}_{H}^{G} \psi.

State the Frobenius reciprocity theorem for class functions and deduce that if ψ\psi is a character of HH then IndHGψ\operatorname{Ind}_{H}^{G} \psi is a character of GG.

Assuming ψ\psi is a character, identify a GG-space affording the character IndHGψ\operatorname{Ind}_{H}^{G} \psi. Briefly justify your answer.

(c) Let χ1,,χk\chi_{1}, \ldots, \chi_{k} be the irreducible characters of GG and let ψ\psi be an irreducible character of HH. Show that the integers e1,,eke_{1}, \ldots, e_{k}, which are given by IndHG(ψ)=\operatorname{Ind}_{H}^{G}(\psi)= e1χ1++ekχke_{1} \chi_{1}+\cdots+e_{k} \chi_{k}, satisfy

i=1kei2G:H\sum_{i=1}^{k} e_{i}^{2} \leqslant|G: H|