Classification of Sylow classes of parabolic and reflection subgroups in unitary reflection groups

Abstract

Let $\ell$ be a prime divisor of the order of a finite unitary reflection group. We classify up to conjugacy the parabolic and reflection subgroups that are minimal with respect to inclusion, subject to containing an $\ell$-Sylow subgroup. The classification assists in describing the $\ell$-Sylow subgroups of unitary reflection groups up to group isomorphism. This classification also relates to the modular representation theory of finite groups of Lie type. We observe that unless a parabolic subgroup minimally containing an $\ell$-Sylow subgroup is $G$ itself, the reflection subgroup within the parabolic minimally containing an $\ell$-Sylow subgroup is the whole parabolic subgroup.

14 pages, 6 tables