Cliff-Weiss Inequalities and the Zassenhaus Conjecture

Abstract

Let $N$ be a nilpotent normal subgroup of the finite group $G$. Assume that $u$ is a unit of finite order in the integral group ring $\mathbb{Z}G$ of $G$ which maps to the identity under the linear extension of the natural homomorphism $G\to G/N$. We show how a result of Cliff and Weiss can be used to derive linear inequalities on the partial augmentations of $u$ and apply this to the study of the Zassenhaus Conjecture. This conjecture states that any unit of finite order in $\mathbb{Z}G$ is conjugate in the rational group algebra of $G$ to an element in $\pm G$.

22 pages