Primitive characters of maximal subgroups of M-groups

Abstract

Let [Formula: see text] be a maximal subgroup of an [Formula: see text]-group [Formula: see text] with odd index and let [Formula: see text] be primitive. Lewis proved in this situation that [Formula: see text] divides [Formula: see text], and Isaacs and Wilde further refined this result by showing that either [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we present an independent and simpler proof for these remarkable results and thereby obtain more detailed information regarding the structure of the group [Formula: see text] and the primitive character [Formula: see text]. In particular, [Formula: see text] is strongly irreducible in the sense of Brauer.