Fields of definition and essential dimension in representation theory
ENS Salle WA classical theorem of Brauer asserts that every finite-dimensional non-modular representation p of a finite group G defined over a field K, whose character takes values in a subfield k, descends to k, provided that k has suitable roots of unity. If k does not contain these roots of unity, it is natural to ask how far p is from being definable over k. The classical answer is given by the Schur index of p, which is the smallest degree of a finite field extension l/k such that p can […]