Orders generated by character values

Abstract

Let $K:=\mathbb{Q}(G)$ be the number field generated by the complex character values of a finite group $G$. Let ${\mathbb{Z}}_K$ be the ring of integers of $K$. In this paper we investigate the suborder $\mathbb{Z}[G]$ of ${\mathbb{Z}}_K$ generated by the character values of $G$. We prove that every prime divisor of the order of the finite abelian group ${\mathbb{Z}}_K/\mathbb{Z}[G]$ divides $|G|$. Moreover, if $G$ is nilpotent, we show that the exponent of ${\mathbb{Z}}_K/\mathbb{Z}[G]$ is a proper divisor of $|G|$ unless $G=1$. We conjecture that this holds for arbitrary finite groups $G$.

12 pages. To appear in Monatsh. Math