Projective Representations of Minimum Degree of Group Extensions

Abstract

Let G be a finite simple group and let F be an algebraically closed field. A faithful projective F-representation of G of smallest possible degree often cannot be lifted to an ordinary representation of G, though it can of course be lifted to an ordinary representation of some central extension of G. It is a natural question to ask whether by considering non-central extensions, it is possible in some cases to decrease the smallest degree of a faithful projective representation.