We give a full description of locally finite p-groups G such that the normalized group of units V(FG) of the group algebra FG over a field F of characteristic p has exponent 4.
A p-group is called powerful if every commutator is a product of pth powers when p is odd and a product of fourth powers when p=2. In the group algebra of a group G of p-power order over a finite field of characteristic p, the group of normalized units is always a p-group. We prove that it is never powerful except, of course, when G is abelian.
Let p be a prime, K a field of characteristic p, G a locally finite p-group, KG the group algebra, and V the group of the units of KG with augmentation 1. The anti-automorphism gmapsto g^{-1} of G extends linearly to KG; this extension leaves V setwise invariant, and its restriction to V followed by vmapsto v^{-1} lives an automorphism of V. The elements of V fixed by this automorphism are called unitary; they form a subgroup. Our first theorem describes the K and G for which this subgroup is normal in V. For each element g in G, let bar{g} denote the sum (in KG) of the distinct powers of g. The elements 1+(g-1)hbar{g} with g,hin G are the bicyclic units of KG. Our second theorem describes the K and G for which all bicyclic units are unitary.
Using the Luthar--Passi method, we investigate the possible orders and partial augmentations of torsion units of the normalized unit group of integral group rings of Conway simple groups $Co_1$, $Co_2$ and $Co_3$.
Let V_* be the normalized unitary subgroup of the modular group algebra FG of a finite p-group G over a finite field F with the classical involution *. We investigate the isomorphism problem for the group V_*, that asks when the group V_* is determined by its group algebra FG. We confirm it for classes of finite abelian p-groups, 2-groups of maximal class and non-abelian 2-groups of order at most 16.
We give an explicit and character-free construction of a complete set of orthogonal primitive idempotents of a rational group algebra of a finite nilpotent group and a full description of the Wedderburn decomposition of such algebras. An immediate consequence is a well-known result of Roquette on the Schur indices of the simple components of group algebras of finite nilpotent groups. As an application, we obtain that the unit group of the integral group ring $Z G$ of a finite nilpotent group $G$ has a subgroup of finite index that is generated by three nilpotent groups for which we have an explicit description of their generators. Another application is a new construction of free subgroups in the unit group. In all the constructions dealt with, pairs of subgroups $(H,K)$, called strong Shoda pairs, and explicit constructed central elements $e(G,H,K)$ play a crucial role. For arbitrary finite groups we prove that the primitive central idempotents of the rational group algebras are rational linear combinations of such $e(G,H,K)$, with $(H,K)$ strong Shoda pairs in subgroups of $G$.