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# Hyperelliptic jacobians and modular representations

## 1. Introduction

In  the author proved that in characteristic $`0`$ the jacobian $`J(C)=J(C_f)`$ of a hyperelliptic curve

$$C=C_f:y^2=f(x)$$

has only trivial endomorphisms over an algebraic closure $`K_a`$ of the ground field $`K`$ if the Galois group $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ of the irreducible polynomial $`fK[x]`$ is “very big”. Namely, if $`n=\mathrm{deg}(f)5`$ and $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ is either the symmetric group $`𝐒_n`$ or the alternating group $`𝐀_n`$ then the ring $`\mathrm{End}(J(C_f))`$ of $`K_a`$-endomorphisms of $`J(C_f)`$ coincides with $`𝐙`$. The proof was based on an explicit description of the Galois module $`J(C_f)_2`$ of points of order $`2`$ on $`J(C_f)`$. Namely, the action of the Galois group $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)`$ factors through $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ and the $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$-module $`J(C_f)_2`$ could be easily described in terms of the (transitive) action of $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ on the set $`_f`$ of roots of $`f`$.

It turns out that if $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ contains $`𝐀_n`$ then the Galois module $`J(C_f)_2`$ enjoys the following property ():

(\*):each subalgebra in $`\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(J(C_f)_2)`$ which contains the identity operator and is stable under the conjugation by Galois automorphisms either consists of scalars or coincides with $`\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(J(C_f)_2)`$.

Applying (\*) to the subalgebra $`\mathrm{End}(J(C_f))𝐙/2𝐙`$, one concludes that it consists of scalars, i.e., $`\mathrm{End}(J(C_f)`$ is a free abelian group of rank $`1`$ and therefore coincides with $`𝐙`$. (The case of $`\mathrm{End}(J(C))𝐙/2𝐙=\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(J(C_f)_2)`$ could not occur in characteristic zero.)

The proof of (\*) was based on the well-known explicit description of $`J(C_f)_2`$ ,  and elementary properties of $`𝐀_n`$ and its simplest nontrivial representation in characteristic $`2`$ of dimension $`n1`$ or $`n2`$ (depending on whether $`n`$ is odd or even).

In this paper we study property (\*) itself from the point of view of representation theory over $`𝐅_2`$. Our results allow, in principle, to check the validity of (\*) even if $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ does not contain $`𝐀_n`$. We prove that $`\mathrm{End}(J(C_f))=𝐙`$ for an infinite series of $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)=𝐋_2(2^r):=\mathrm{PSL}_2(𝐅_{2^r})`$ and $`n=2^r+1`$ (with $`r3`$ and $`\mathrm{dim}(J(C_f))=2^{r1}`$) or when $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ is the Suzuki group $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(2^{2r+1})`$ and $`n=2^{2(2r+1)}+1`$ (with $`\mathrm{dim}(J(C_f))=2^{4r+1}`$).

We refer the reader to , , , , ,  for a discussion of known results about, and examples of, hyperelliptic jacobians without complex multiplication.

The paper is organized as follows. In §2 we state the main results and begin the discussion of linear representations for which an analogue of the property (\*) holds true; we call such representations very simple. In §3 we prove that the very simplicity of the Galois module $`X_{\mathrm{}}`$ of points of prime order $`\mathrm{}`$ on an abelian variety $`X`$ implies in characteristic zero that $`X`$ does not have nontrivial endomorphisms. In §4 we remind basic facts about permutation groups and corresponding ordinary representations and modular representations over $`𝐅_2`$. We use them in §5 in order to restate the main results as assertions about the very simplicity of certain permutation modules using an explicit description of points of order $`\mathrm{}=2`$ on hyperelliptic jacobians. It turns out that all these permutations modules are Steinberg representations. In §6 we prove that the Steinberg representations are the only absolutely irreducible nontrivial representations (up to an isomorphism) over $`𝐅_2`$ for groups $`𝐋_2(2^r)`$ and $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(2^{2r+1})`$. In §7 we study very simple linear representations; in particular, we prove that all the (modular) Steinberg representations discussed in Section 6 are very simple. This ends the proof of main results.

## 2. Main results

Throughout this paper we assume that $`K`$ is a field. We fix its algebraic closure $`K_a`$ and write $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)`$ for the absolute Galois group $`\mathrm{Aut}(K_a/K)`$. If $`X`$ is an abelian variety of dimension $`g`$ defined over $`K`$ then for each prime $`\mathrm{}\mathrm{char}(K)`$ we write $`X_{\mathrm{}}`$ for the kernel of multiplication by $`\mathrm{}`$ in $`X(K_a)`$. It is well-known that $`X_{\mathrm{}}`$ is a $`2g`$-dimensional $`𝐅_{\mathrm{}}`$-vector space provided with a natural structure of $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)`$-module. We write $`\mathrm{End}(X)`$ for the ring of $`K_a`$-endomorphisms of $`X`$ and $`\mathrm{End}^0(X)`$ for the corresponding finite-dimensional $`𝐐`$-algebra $`\mathrm{End}(X)𝐐`$.

The following notion plays a crucial role in this paper and will be discussed in detail in §7.

###### Definition 2.1.

Let $`V`$ be a vector space over a field $`𝐅`$, let $`G`$ be a group and $`\rho :G\mathrm{Aut}_𝐅(V)`$ a linear representation of $`G`$ in $`V`$. We say that the $`G`$-module $`V`$ is very simple if it enjoys the following property:

If $`R\mathrm{End}_𝐅(V)`$ be an $`𝐅`$-subalgebra containing the identity operator $`\mathrm{Id}`$ such that

$$\rho (\sigma )R\rho (\sigma )^1R\sigma G$$

then either $`R=𝐅\mathrm{Id}`$ or $`R=\mathrm{End}_𝐅(V)`$.

###### Remarks 2.2.

1. Clearly, the $`G`$-module $`V`$ is very simple if and only if the corresponding $`\rho (G)`$-module $`V`$ is very simple.
2. Clearly, if $`V`$ is very simple then the corresponding algebra homomorphism

$$𝐅[G]\mathrm{End}_𝐅(V)$$

is surjective. Here $`𝐅[G]`$ stands for the group algebra of $`G`$. In particular, a very simple module is absolutely simple.
3. If $`G^{}`$ is a subgroup of $`G`$ and the $`G^{}`$-module $`V`$ is very simple then the $`G`$-module $`V`$ is also very simple.
4. Let $`G^{}`$ be a normal subgroup of $`G`$. If $`V`$ is a faithful very simple $`G`$-module then either $`G^{}\mathrm{Aut}_𝐅(V)`$ consists of scalars (i.e., lies in $`𝐅\mathrm{Id}`$) or the $`G^{}`$-module $`V`$ is also very simple.

###### Lemma 2.3.

Let $`X`$ be an abelian variety of positive dimension $`g`$ over $`K`$. Let $`\mathrm{}`$ be a prime different from $`\mathrm{char}(K)`$. Assume that the $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)`$-module $`X_{\mathrm{}}`$ is very simple. Then either $`\mathrm{End}(X)=𝐙`$ or $`\mathrm{char}(K)>0`$ and $`X`$ is a supersingular abelian variety.

We prove Lemma 2.3 in §3.

###### Theorem 2.4.

Let $`K`$ be a field with $`\mathrm{char}(K)2`$, $`f(x)K[x]`$ an irreducible separable polynomial of degree $`n5`$. Let $`=_fK_a`$ be the set of roots of $`f`$, let $`K(_f)=K()`$ be the splitting field of $`f`$ and $`\mathrm{Gal}(f):=\mathrm{Gal}(K()/K)`$ the Galois group of $`f`$, viewed as a subgroup of $`\mathrm{Perm}()`$. Let $`C_f`$ be the hyperelliptic curve $`y^2=f(x)`$. Let $`J(C_f)`$ be its jacobian, $`\mathrm{End}(J(C_f))`$ the ring of $`K_a`$-endomorphisms of $`J(C_f)`$. Assume that $`n`$ and $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ enjoy one of the following properties:

1. $`n=2^m+19`$ and the Galois group $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ of $`f`$ contains a subgroup isomorphic to $`𝐋_2(2^m)`$;
2. For some positive integer $`k`$ we have $`n=2^{2(2k+1)}+1`$ and the Galois group $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ of $`f`$ is isomorphic to $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(2^{2k+1})`$;

Then:

1. The $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)`$-module $`J(C)_2`$ is very simple;
2. Either $`\mathrm{End}(J(C_f))=𝐙`$ or $`\mathrm{char}(K)>0`$ and $`J(C_f)`$ is a supersingular abelian variety.

###### Remark 2.5.

It follows from Lemma 2.3 that in order to prove Theorem 2.4, it suffices to check only the assertion a).

## 3. Proof of Lemma 2.3

Recall that $`\mathrm{dim}_𝐅_{\mathrm{}}(X_{\mathrm{}})=2g`$. Since $`X`$ is defined over $`K`$, one may associate with every $`u\mathrm{End}(X)`$ and $`\sigma \mathrm{Gal}(K)`$ an endomorphism $`{}_{}{}^{\sigma }u\mathrm{End}(X)`$ such that

$${}_{}{}^{\sigma }u(x)=\sigma u(\sigma ^1x)xX(F_a).$$

Let us put

$$R:=\mathrm{End}(X)𝐙/\mathrm{}𝐙\mathrm{End}_𝐅_{\mathrm{}}(X_{\mathrm{}}).$$

Clearly, $`R`$ satisfies all the conditions of Lemma 2.3. This implies that either $`R=𝐅_{\mathrm{}}\mathrm{Id}`$ or $`R=\mathrm{End}_𝐅_{\mathrm{}}(X_{\mathrm{}})`$. If $`\mathrm{End}(X)𝐙/\mathrm{}𝐙=R=𝐅_{\mathrm{}}\mathrm{Id}`$ then the free abelian group $`\mathrm{End}(X)`$ has rank $`1`$ and therefore coincides with $`𝐙`$. If $`\mathrm{End}(X)𝐙/\mathrm{}𝐙=R=\mathrm{End}_𝐅_{\mathrm{}}(X_{\mathrm{}})`$ then the free abelian group $`\mathrm{End}(X)`$ has rank $`(2\mathrm{d}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{m}(X))^2=(2g)^2`$ and therefore the $`𝐐`$-algebra $`\mathrm{End}^0(X)`$ has dimension $`(2g)^2`$.

Now Lemma 2.3 becomes an immediate corollary of the following assertion proven in (see Lemma 3.1).

###### Lemma 3.1.

Let $`Y`$ be an abelian variety of dimension $`g`$ over an algebraically closed field $`K_a`$. Assume that the semisimple $`𝐐`$-algebra $`\mathrm{End}^0(Y)=\mathrm{End}(Y)𝐐`$ has dimension $`(2g)^2`$. Then $`\mathrm{char}(K_a)>0`$ and $`Y`$ is supersingular.

## 4. Permutation groups and permutation modules

Let $`B`$ be a finite set consisting of $`n5`$ elements. We write $`\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$ for the group of permutations of $`B`$. A choice of ordering on $`B`$ gives rise to an isomorphism

$$\mathrm{Perm}(B)𝐒_n.$$

Let $`G`$ be a subgroup of $`\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$. For each $`bB`$ we write $`G_b`$ for the stabilizer of $`b`$ in $`G`$; it is a subgroup of $`G`$.

###### Remark 4.1.

Assume that the action of $`G`$ on $`B`$ is transitive. It is well-known that each $`G_b`$ is a subgroup of index $`n`$ in $`G`$ and all the $`G_b`$’s are conjugate one to another in $`G`$. Each conjugate of $`G_b`$ in $`G`$ is the stabilizer of a point in $`B`$. In addition, one may identify the $`G`$-set $`B`$ with the set of cosets $`G/G_b`$ with the standard action by $`G`$.

Let $`𝐅`$ be a field. We write $`𝐅^B`$ for the $`n`$-dimensional $`𝐅`$-vector space of maps $`h:B𝐅`$. The space $`𝐅^B`$ is provided with a natural action of $`\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$ defined as follows. Each $`s\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$ sends a map $`h:B𝐅`$ into $`sh:bh(s^1(b))`$. The permutation module $`𝐅^B`$ contains the $`\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$-stable hyperplane

$$(𝐅^B)^0=\{h:B𝐅\underset{bB}{}h(b)=0\}$$

and the $`\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$-invariant line $`𝐅1_B`$ where $`1_B`$ is the constant function $`1`$. The quotient $`𝐅^B/(𝐅^B)^0`$ is a trivial $`1`$-dimensional $`\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$-module.

Clearly, $`(𝐅^B)^0`$ contains $`𝐅1_B`$ if and only if $`\mathrm{char}(𝐅)`$ divides $`n`$. If this is not the case then there is a $`\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$-invariant splitting

$$𝐅^B=(𝐅^B)^0𝐅1_B.$$

Clearly, $`𝐅^B`$ and $`(𝐅^B)^0`$ carry natural structures of $`G`$-modules. Their characters depend only on characteristic of $`𝐅`$.

Let us consider the case of $`𝐅=𝐐`$. Then the character of $`𝐐^B`$ sends each $`gG`$ into the number of fixed points of $`g`$ (, ex. 2.2, p. 12); it is called the permutation character. Let us denote by $`\chi =\chi _B:G𝐐`$ the character of $`(𝐐^B)^0`$. It is known that the $`𝐐[G]`$-module $`(𝐐^B)^0`$ is absolutely simple if and only if $`G`$ acts doubly transitively on $`B`$ (, ex. 2.6, p. 17). Clearly, $`1+\chi `$ is the permutation character.

Now, let us consider the case of $`𝐅=𝐅_2`$. It is well-known that one may view $`𝐅_2^B`$ as the $`𝐅_2`$-vector space of all subsets of $`B`$ with symmetric difference as a sum. Namely, a subset $`T`$ corresponds to its characteristic function $`\chi _T:B\{0,1\}=𝐅_2`$ and a function $`h:B𝐅_2`$ corresponds to its support $`\mathrm{supp}(h)=\{xBh(x)=1\}`$. Under this identification each $`sG\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$ sends $`T`$ into $`s(T)=\{s(b)bT\}`$.

Under this identification the hyperplane $`(𝐅_2^B)^0`$ corresponds to the $`𝐅_2`$-vector space of all subsets of $`B`$ of even cardinality with symmetric difference as a sum.

If $`n`$ is even then let us define the $`\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$-module

$$Q_B:=(𝐅_2^B)^0/(𝐅_21_B).$$

If $`n`$ is odd then let us put

$$Q_B:=(𝐅_2^B)^0.$$

When $`n`$ is even, the quotient $`Q_B`$ corresponds to the $`n2`$-dimensional $`𝐅_2`$-vector space of all subsets of $`B`$ of even cardinality with symmetric difference as a sum where each subset $`TB`$ of even cardinality is identified with its complement $`BT`$.

###### Remark 4.2.

Clearly, $`\mathrm{dim}_{𝐅_2}(Q_B)=n1`$ if $`n`$ is odd and $`\mathrm{dim}_{𝐅_2}(Q_B)=n2`$ if $`n`$ is even. In both cases $`Q_B`$ is a faithful $`G`$-module.

Let $`G^{(2)}`$ be the set of $`2`$-regular elements of $`G`$. Clearly, the Brauer character of the $`G`$-module $`𝐅_2^B`$ coincides with the restriction of $`1+\chi _B`$ to $`G^{(2)}`$. This implies easily that the Brauer character of the $`G`$-module $`(𝐅_2^B)^0`$ coincides with the restriction of $`\chi _B`$ to $`G^{(2)}`$.

###### Remark 4.3.

Let us denote by $`\varphi _B=\varphi `$ the Brauer character of the $`G`$-module $`Q_B`$. One may easily check that $`\varphi _B`$ coincides with the restriction of $`\chi _B`$ to $`G^{(2)}`$ if $`n`$ is odd and with the restriction of $`\chi _B1`$ to $`G^{(2)}`$ if $`n`$ is even.

###### Remark 4.4.

Assume that $`n=\mathrm{\#}(B)`$ is even. Let us choose $`bB`$ and let $`G^{}:=G_b`$ and $`B^{}=B\{b\}`$. Then $`n^{}=\mathrm{\#}(B^{})=n1`$ is odd and there is a canonical isomorphism of $`G^{}`$-modules $`Q_B^{}Q_B`$ defined as follows. First, there is a natural $`G^{}`$-equivariant embedding $`𝐅_2^B^{}𝐅_2^B`$ which could be obtained by extending each $`h:B^{}𝐅_2`$ to $`B`$ by letting $`h(b)=0`$. Second, this embedding identifies $`(𝐅_2^B^{})^0`$ with a hyperplane of $`(𝐅_2^B)^0`$ which does not contain $`1_B`$. Now the desired isomorphism is given by the composition

$$Q_B^{}=(𝐅_2^B^{})^0(𝐅_2^B)^0(𝐅_2^B)^0/(𝐅_21_B)=Q_B.$$

This implies that if the $`G^{}`$-module $`Q_B^{}`$ is very simple then the $`G`$-module $`Q_B`$ is also very simple.

###### Remark 4.5.

Assume that $`G`$ acts on $`B`$ doubly transitively, $`\mathrm{\#}(B)`$ is odd and $`\mathrm{\#}(B)1=\mathrm{dim}_𝐐((𝐐_B)^0)`$ coincides with the largest power of $`2`$ dividing $`\mathrm{\#}(G)`$. Then it follows from a theorem of Brauer-Nesbitt (, Sect. 16.4, pp. 136–137 ; , p. 249) that $`Q_B`$ is an absolutely simple $`𝐅_2[G]`$-module. In particular, $`Q_B`$ is (the reduction of) the Steinberg representation .

## 5. Points of order $`2`$ on hyperelliptic jacobians

We keep all notations of Section 2. In addition, we assume that $`K`$ is a field of characteristic different from $`2`$. Let $`C`$ be a hyperelliptic curve over $`K`$ defined by an equation $`y^2=f(x)`$ where $`f(x)K[x]`$ is a polynomial of degree $`n5`$ without multiple roots. The rational function $`xK(C)`$ defines a canonical double cover $`\pi :C𝐏^1`$. Let $`B^{}C(K_a)`$ be the set of ramification points of $`\pi `$ (Weierstraß points). Clearly, the restriction of $`\pi `$ to $`B^{}`$ is an injective map $`\pi :B^{}𝐏^1(K_a)`$, whose image is either the set $`=_f`$ of roots of $`f`$ if $`n`$ is even or the disjoint union of $`\mathrm{}`$ and $``$ if $`n`$ is odd. By abuse of notation, we also denote by $`\mathrm{}`$ the ramification point lying above $`\mathrm{}`$ if $`n`$ is odd and by $`\mathrm{}_1`$ and $`\mathrm{}_2`$ two unramified points lying above $`\mathrm{}`$ if $`n`$ is even. Clearly, if $`n`$ is odd then $`\mathrm{}C(K)`$. If $`n`$ is even then the $`2`$-element set $`\{\mathrm{}_1,\mathrm{}_2\}`$ is stable under the action of $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)`$.

Let us put

$$B=\{(\alpha ,0)f(\alpha )=0\}C(K_a).$$

Then $`\pi `$ defines a bijection between $`B`$ and $``$ which commutes with the action of $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)`$. If $`n`$ is even then $`B`$ coincides with $`B^{}`$. In the case of odd $`n`$ the set $`B^{}`$ is the disjoint union of $`B`$ and $`\mathrm{}`$.

###### Theorem 5.1.

Suppose $`n`$ is an integer which is greater than or equal to $`5`$. Suppose $`f(x)K[x]`$ is a separable polynomial of degree $`n`$, $`K_a`$ the set of roots of $`f`$, let $`K()`$ be the splitting field of $`f`$ and $`\mathrm{Gal}(f):=\mathrm{Gal}(K()/K)`$ the Galois group of $`f`$.

Suppose $`C`$ is the hyperelliptic curve $`y^2=f(x)`$ of genus $`g=[\frac{n1}{2}]`$ over $`K`$. Suppose $`J(C)`$ is the jacobian of $`C`$ and $`J(C)_2`$ is the group of its points of order $`2`$, viewed as a $`2g`$-dimensional $`𝐅_2`$-vector space provided with the natural action of $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)`$. Then the homomorphism $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)\mathrm{Aut}_{𝐅_2}(J(C)_2)`$ factors through the canonical surjection $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)\mathrm{Gal}(K()/K)=\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ and the $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$-modules $`J(C)_2`$ and $`Q_{}`$ are isomorphic. In particular, the $`G(K)`$-module $`J(C)_2`$ is very simple if and only if the $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$-module $`Q_B`$ is very simple.

###### Remark 5.2.

Clearly, $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)`$ acts on $`B`$ through the canonical surjective homomorphism $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$, because all points of $`B`$ are defined over $`K()`$ and the natural homomorphism $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$ is injective. Clearly, $`\pi :B`$ is a bijection of $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$-sets. This implies easily that the $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$-modules $`Q_B`$ and $`Q_{}`$ are isomorphic. So, in order to prove Theorem 5.1 it suffices to check that the $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)`$-modules $`Q_B`$ and $`J(C)_2`$ are isomorphic.

###### Proof of Theorem 5.1.

Here is a well-known explicit description of the group $`J(C)_2`$ of points of order $`2`$ on $`J(C)`$. Let us denote by $`L`$ the $`K`$-divisor $`2(\mathrm{})`$ on $`C`$ if $`n`$ is odd and the $`K`$-divisor $`(\mathrm{}_1)+(\mathrm{}_2)`$ if $`n`$ is even. In both cases $`L`$ is an effective divisor of degree $`2`$. Namely, let $`TB^{}`$ be a subset of even cardinality. Then (, Ch. IIIa, Sect. 2, Lemma 2.4; , pp. 190–191; see also ) the divisor $`e_T=_{PT}(P)\frac{\mathrm{\#}(T)}{2}L`$ on $`C`$ has degree $`0`$ and $`2e_T`$ is principal. If $`T_1,T_2`$ are two subsets of even cardinality in $`B^{}`$ then the divisors $`e_{T_1}`$ and $`e_{T_2}`$ are linearly equivalent if and only if either $`T_1=T_2`$ or $`T_2=B^{}T_1`$. Also, if $`T=T_1\mathrm{}T_2`$ then the divisor $`e_T`$ is linearly equivalent to $`e_{T_1}+e_{T_2}`$. Hereafter we use the symbol $`\mathrm{}`$ for the symmetric difference of two sets. Counting arguments imply easily that each point of $`J(C)_2`$ is the class of $`e_T`$ for some $`T`$. We know that such a choice is not unique. However, in the case of odd $`n`$ if we demand that $`T`$ does not contain $`\mathrm{}`$ then such a choice always exists and unique. This observation leads to a canonical group isomorphism

$$Q_B=(𝐅_2^B)^0J(C)_2,T\mathrm{cl}(e_T)$$

in the case of odd $`n`$. Here $`\mathrm{cl}`$ stands for the linear equivalence class of a divisor. In the case of even $`n`$ we are still able to define a canonical surjective group homomorphism

$$(𝐅_2^B)^0J(C)_2,T\mathrm{cl}(e_T)$$

and one may easily check that the kernel of this map is the line generated by the set $`B`$, i.e., the line generated by the constant function $`1_B`$. This gives rise to the injective homomorphism

$$Q_B=(𝐅_2^B)^0/(𝐅_21_B)J(C)_2,$$

which is an isomorphism, by counting arguments. So, in both (odd and even) cases we get a canonical isomorphism $`Q_BJ(C)_2`$, which obviously commutes with the actions of $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)`$. In other words, we constructed an isomorphism of $`\mathrm{Gal}(K)`$-modiles $`Q_B`$ and $`J(C)_2`$. In light of Remark 5.2, this ends the proof of Theorem 5.1. ∎

Combining Theorem 5.1 and Lemma 2.3 (for $`\mathrm{}=2`$), we obtain the following corollary.

###### Corollary 5.3.

Let $`K`$ be a field with $`\mathrm{char}(K)2`$, $`K_a`$ its algebraic closure, $`f(x)K[x]`$ an irreducible separable polynomial of degree $`n5`$. Let $`=_fK_a`$ be the set of roots of $`f`$, let $`K(_f)=K()`$ be the splitting field of $`f`$ and $`\mathrm{Gal}(f):=\mathrm{Gal}(K()/K)`$ the Galois group of $`f`$, viewed as a subgroup of $`\mathrm{Perm}()`$. Let $`C_f`$ be the hyperelliptic curve $`y^2=f(x)`$. Let $`J(C_f)`$ be its jacobian, $`\mathrm{End}(J(C_f))`$ the ring of $`K_a`$-endomorphisms of $`J(C_f)`$. Assume that the $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$-module $`Q_{}`$ is very simple. Then either $`\mathrm{End}(J(C_f))=𝐙`$ or $`\mathrm{char}(K)>0`$ and $`J(C_f)`$ is a supersingular abelian variety.

Notice that in order to prove Theorem 2.4, it suffices to check the following statement.

###### Theorem 5.4.

Let $`n`$ be a positive integer, $`B`$ a $`n`$-element set, $`H\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$ a permutation group. Assume that $`(n,H)`$ enjoy one of the following properties:

1. $`n=2^m+19`$ and $`H`$ contains a subgroup isomorphic to $`𝐋_2(2^m)`$;
2. For some positive integer $`k`$ we have $`n=2^{2(2k+1)}+1`$ and $`H`$ contains a subgroup isomorphic to $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(2^{2k+1})`$;

Then the $`H`$-module $`Q_B`$ is very simple.

###### Proof of Theorem 2.4 modulo Theorem 5.4.

Let us put

$$n=\mathrm{deg}(f),B=,H=\mathrm{Gal}(f).$$

It follows from Theorem 5.4 that the $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$-module $`𝐐_{}`$ is very simple. Now the result follows readily from Corollary 5.3. ∎

We prove Theorem 5.4 at the end of §7.

## 6. Steinberg representation

In this section we prove that the Steinberg representation is the only nontrivial absolutely irreducible representation over $`𝐅_2`$ (up to an isomorphism) of groups $`𝐋_2(2^m))`$ and $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(2^{2k+1})`$. We refer to  for basic properties of Steinberg representations.

Let us fix an algebraic closure of $`𝐅_2`$ and denote it by $``$. We write $`\varphi :`$ for the Frobenius automorphism $`xx^2`$. Let $`q=2^m`$ be a positive integral power of two. Then the subfield of invariants of $`\varphi ^m:`$ is a finite field $`𝐅_q`$ consisting of $`q`$ elements. Let $`q^{}`$ be an integral positive power of $`q`$. If $`d`$ is a positive integer and $`i`$ is a non-negative integer then for each matrix $`u\mathrm{GL}_d()`$ we write $`u^{(i)}`$ for the matrix obtained by raising each entry of $`u`$ to the $`2^i`$th power.

Recall that an element $`\alpha 𝐅_q`$ is called primitive if $`\alpha 0`$ and has multiplicative order $`q1`$ in the cyclic multiplicative group $`𝐅_q^{}`$.

###### Lemma 6.1.

Let $`q>2`$, let $`d`$ be a positive integer and let $`G`$ be a subgroup of $`\mathrm{GL}_d(𝐅_q^{})`$. Assume that there exists an element $`uG\mathrm{GL}_d(𝐅_q^{})`$, whose trace $`\alpha `$ lies in $`𝐅_q^{}`$ and has multiplicative order $`q1`$. Let $`V_0=^d`$ and let $`\rho _0:G\mathrm{GL}_d(𝐅_q^{})\mathrm{GL}_d()=\mathrm{Aut}_{}(V_0)`$ be the natural $`d`$-dimensional representation of $`G`$ over $``$. For each positive integer $`i<m`$ we define a $`d`$-dimensional $``$-representation

$$\rho _i:G\mathrm{Aut}(V_i)$$

as the composition of

$$G\mathrm{GL}_d(𝐅_q^{}),xx^{(i)}$$

and the inclusion map

$$\mathrm{GL}_d(𝐅_q^{})\mathrm{GL}_d()\mathrm{Aut}_{}(V_i).$$

Let $`S`$ be a subset of $`\{0,1,\mathrm{}m1\}`$. Let us define a $`d^{\mathrm{\#}(S)}`$-dimensional $``$-representation $`\rho _S`$ of $`G`$ as the tensor product of representations $`\rho _i`$ for all $`iS`$. If $`S`$ is a proper subset of $`\{0,1,\mathrm{}m1\}`$ then there exists an element $`uG`$ such that the trace of $`\rho _S(u)`$ does not belong to $`𝐅_2`$. In particular, $`\rho _S`$ could not be obtained by extension of scalars to $``$ from a representation of $`G`$ over $`𝐅_2`$.

###### Proof.

Clearly,

$$\mathrm{tr}(\rho _i(u))=(\mathrm{tr}(\rho _0(u))^{2^i}uG.$$

This implies easily that

$$\mathrm{tr}(\rho _S(u))=\underset{iS}{}\mathrm{tr}(\rho _i(u))=(\mathrm{tr}(\rho _0(u))^M$$

where $`M=_{iS}2^i`$. Since $`S`$ is a proper subset of $`\{0,1,\mathrm{}m1\}`$, we have

$$0<M<\underset{i=0}{\overset{m1}{}}2^i=2^m1=\mathrm{\#}(𝐅_q^{}).$$

Recall that there exists $`uG`$ such that $`\alpha =\mathrm{tr}(\rho _0(u))`$ lies in $`𝐅_q^{}`$ and the exact multiplicative order of $`\alpha `$ is $`q1=2^m1`$.

This implies that $`0\alpha ^M1`$. Since $`𝐅_2=\{0,1\}`$, we conclude that $`\alpha ^M𝐅_2`$. Therefore $`\mathrm{tr}(\rho _S(u))=(\mathrm{tr}(\rho _0(u))^M=\alpha ^M𝐅_2`$. ∎

###### Theorem 6.2.

Let $`q8`$ be a power of $`2`$ and $`G=𝐋_2(q)=\mathrm{PSL}_2(𝐅_q)=\mathrm{SL}_2(𝐅_q)`$. Let $`\rho :G\mathrm{Aut}(V)`$ be an absolutely irreducible faithful representation of $`G`$ over $``$. If the trace map $`\mathrm{tr}_\rho :G`$ takes on values in $`𝐅_2`$ then $`\mathrm{dim}_{}(V)=q`$. In particular, $`\rho `$ is the Steinberg representation of $`G`$.

###### Proof.

Let us put $`q^{}=q`$. We have

$$G=\mathrm{SL}_2(𝐅_q)\mathrm{GL}_2(𝐅_q).$$

Clearly, for each $`\alpha 𝐅_q`$ one may find a $`2\times 2`$ matrix with determinant $`1`$ and trace $`\alpha `$. This implies that $`G`$ satisfies the conditions of Lemma 6.1.

The construction described in Lemma 6.1 allows us to construct a $`d^{\mathrm{\#}(S)}`$-dimensional $``$-representation $`\rho _S`$ of $`G`$ for each subset $`S`$ of of $`\{0,1,\mathrm{}m1\}`$. It is well-known (, pp. 588-589) that $`\rho _S`$’s exhaust the list of all absolutely irreducible $``$-representations of $`G=\mathrm{SL}_2(𝐅_q)`$ and therefore $`\rho `$ is isomorphic to $`\rho _S`$ for some $`S`$. It follows from Lemma 6.1 that either $`S`$ is empty or $`S=\{0,1,\mathrm{}m1\}`$. The case of empty $`S`$ corresponds to the trivial $`1`$-dimensional representation. Therefore $`S=\{0,1,\mathrm{}m1\}`$ and $`\rho `$ is $`2^m=q`$-dimensional. ∎

Suppose $`m=2k+13`$ is an odd integer. Let $`q=2^m=2^{2k+1}`$ and $`d=4`$. Recall (. pp. 182–194) that the Suzuki group $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)`$ is the subgroup of $`\mathrm{GL}_4(𝐅_q)`$ generated by the matrices $`S(a,b),M(\lambda ),T`$ defined as follows. For each $`a,b𝐅_q`$ the matrix $`S(a,b)`$ is defined by

$$S(a,b)=\left(\begin{array}{cccc}1& 0& 0& 0\\ a& 1& 0& 0\\ b& a^{2^{k+1}}& 1& 0\\ a^{2^{k+1}+2}+ab+b^{2^{k+1}}& a^{2^{k+1}+1}+b& a& 1\end{array}\right)$$

and for each $`\lambda 𝐅_q^{}`$ the matrix $`M(\lambda )`$ is defined by

$$M(\lambda )=\left(\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda ^{1+2^k}& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& \lambda ^{2^k}& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& \lambda ^{2^k}& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& \lambda ^{1+2^k}\end{array}\right).$$

The matrix $`T`$ is defined by

$$T=\left(\begin{array}{cccc}0& 0& 0& 1\\ 0& 0& 1& 0\\ 0& 1& 0& 0\\ 1& 0& 0& 0\end{array}\right).$$

Notice that the trace of $`S(0,b)T`$ is $`b^{2^{k+1}}`$. This implies easily that for each $`\alpha 𝐅_q`$ one may find an element of $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)\mathrm{GL}_4(𝐅_q)`$ with trace $`\alpha `$. This implies that

$$G=\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)\mathrm{GL}_4(𝐅_q)$$

satisfies the conditions of Lemma 6.1. Notice also that $`\mathrm{\#}(\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q))=(q^2+1)q^2(q1)`$ (, p. 187).

###### Theorem 6.3.

Let $`\rho :\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)\mathrm{Aut}(V)`$ be an absolutely irreducible faithful representation of $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)`$ over $``$. If the trace map $`\mathrm{tr}_\rho :\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)`$ takes on values in $`𝐅_2`$ then $`\mathrm{dim}_{}(V)=q^2`$. In particular, $`\rho `$ is the Steinberg representation of $`G`$.

###### Proof.

Let us put $`q^{}=q`$. We know that $`G=\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)\mathrm{GL}_4(𝐅_q)`$ satisfies the conditions of Lemma 6.1.

The construction described in Lemma 6.1 allows us to construct a $`4^{\mathrm{\#}(S)}`$-dimensional $``$-representation $`\rho _S`$ of $`G`$ for each subset $`S`$ of of $`\{0,1,\mathrm{}m1\}`$. It is known (, pp. 56–57) that $`\rho _S`$’s exhaust the list of all absolutely irreducible $``$-representations of $`G=\mathrm{SL}_2(𝐅_q)`$ and therefore $`\rho `$ is isomorphic to $`\rho _S`$ for some $`S`$. It follows from Lemma 6.1 that either $`S`$ is empty or $`S=\{0,1,\mathrm{}m1\}`$. The case of empty $`S`$ corresponds to trivial $`1`$-dimensional representation. Therefore $`S=\{0,1,\mathrm{}m1\}`$ and $`\rho `$ is $`4^m=q^2`$-dimensional. ∎

###### Remark 6.4.

Assume that in the case 5.4(i) (resp. 5.4(ii)) that $`H=𝐋_2(2^m))`$ (resp. $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(2^{2k+1})`$). It follows from Remark 4.5 that $`Q_B`$ is the Steinberg representation of $`H`$.

## 7. Very simple representations

###### Examples 7.1.

1. If $`\mathrm{dim}(V)=1`$ then $`V`$ is always very simple.
2. Assume that there exist $`G`$-modules $`V_1`$ and $`V_2`$ such that $`\mathrm{dim}(V_1)>1,\mathrm{dim}(V_2)>1`$ and the $`G`$-module $`V`$ is isomorphic to $`V_1_𝐅V_2`$. Then $`V`$ is not very simple. Indeed, the subalgebra

$$R=\mathrm{End}_𝐅(V_1)𝐅\mathrm{Id}_{V_2}\mathrm{End}_𝐅(V_1)_𝐅\mathrm{End}_𝐅(V_2)=\mathrm{End}_𝐅(V)$$

is stable under the conjugation by elements of $`G`$ but coincides neither with $`𝐅\mathrm{Id}`$ nor with $`\mathrm{End}_𝐅(V)`$. (Here $`\mathrm{Id}_{V_2}`$ stands for the identity operator in $`V_2`$.)
3. Let $`XG`$ be a central extension of $`G`$. Assume that there exist $`X`$-modules $`V_1`$ and $`V_2`$ such that $`\mathrm{dim}(V_1)>1,\mathrm{dim}(V_2)>1`$ and $`V`$, viewed as $`X`$-module, is isomorphic to $`V_1_𝐅V_2`$. Then $`V`$ is not very simple as an $`X`$-module. Since $`X`$ and $`G`$ have the same images in $`\mathrm{Aut}_𝐅(V)`$, the $`G`$-module $`V`$ is also not very simple.
4. Assume that there exists a subgroup $`G^{}`$ in $`G`$ of finite index $`m>1`$ and a $`G^{}`$-module $`V^{}`$ such that the $`𝐅[G]`$-module $`V`$ is induced by the $`𝐅[G^{}]`$-module $`V^{}`$. (In particular, $`m`$ must divide $`\mathrm{dim}(V)`$.) Then $`V`$ is not very simple. Indeed, one may view $`W`$ as a $`G^{}`$-submodule of $`V`$ such that $`V`$ coincides with the direct sum $`_{\sigma G/G^{}}\sigma W`$. Let $`R=_{\sigma G/G^{}}\mathrm{End}_𝐅(\sigma W)`$ be the algebra of all operators sending each $`\sigma W`$ into itself. Then $`R`$ is stable under the conjugation by elements of $`G`$ but coincides neither with $`𝐅\mathrm{Id}`$ nor with $`\mathrm{End}_𝐅(V)`$.

###### Example 7.2.

Let $`n5`$ be an integer, $`B`$ a $`n`$-element set. Suppose $`G`$ is either $`\mathrm{Perm}(B)𝐒_n`$ or the only subgroup in $`\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$ of index $`2`$ (isomorphic to $`𝐀_n`$). Then the $`G`$-module $`Q_B`$ is very simple. If $`n`$ is odd then this assertion is proven in , Th. 4.1. If $`n`$ is even then $`n6`$, $`n^{}=n15`$ is odd and the result follows from the odd case combined with Remarks 2.2 and 4.4.

###### Remarks 7.3.

Assume that there exist $`G`$-modules $`V_1`$ and $`V_2`$ such that $`\mathrm{dim}(V_1)>1,\mathrm{dim}(V_2)>1`$ and the $`G`$-module $`V`$ is isomorphic to $`V_1_𝐅V_2`$.

1. If $`V`$ is simple then both $`V_1`$ and $`V_2`$ are also simple. Indeed, if say, $`V^{}`$ is a proper $`G`$-stable subspace in $`V_1`$ then $`V^{}_𝐅V_2`$ is a proper $`G`$-stable subspace in $`V_1_𝐅V_2=V`$.
2. If $`V`$ is absolutely simple then both $`V_1`$ and $`V_2`$ are also absolutely simple. Indeed, assume that say, $`R_1:=\mathrm{End}_G(V_1)`$ has $`𝐅`$-dimension greater than $`1`$. Then $`\mathrm{End}_G(V)=\mathrm{End}_G(V_1_𝐅V_2)`$ contains $`R_1\mathrm{Id}_{V_2}R_1`$ and therefore also has dimension greater than $`1`$.

###### Lemma 7.4.

Let $`H`$ be a group, $`𝐅`$ a field and $`V`$ a simple $`𝐅[H]`$-module of finite $`𝐅`$-dimension $`N`$. Let $`R\mathrm{End}_𝐅(V)`$ be an $`𝐅`$-subalgebra containing the identity operator $`\mathrm{Id}`$ and such that

$$uRu^1RuH.$$

Then:

1. The faithful $`R`$-module $`V`$ is semisimple.
2. Either the $`R`$-module $`V`$ is isotypic or there exists a subgroup $`H^{}H`$ of index $`r`$ dividing $`N`$ and a $`H^{}`$-module $`V^{}`$ of finite $`𝐅`$-dimension $`N/r`$ such that $`r>1`$ and the $`H`$-module $`V`$ is induced by $`V^{}`$. In addition, if $`𝐅=𝐅_2`$ then $`r<N`$.

###### Proof.

We may assume that $`N>1`$. Clearly, $`V`$ is a faithful $`R`$-module and

$$uRu^1=RuH.$$

Step 1. $`V`$ is a semisimple $`R`$-module. Indeed, let $`UV`$ be a simple $`R`$-submodule. Then $`U^{}=_{sH}sU`$ is a non-zero $`H`$-stable subspace in $`V`$ and therefore must coincide with $`V`$. On the other hand, each $`sU`$ is also a $`R`$-submodule in $`V`$, because $`s^1Rs=R`$. In addition, if $`WsU`$ is an $`R`$-submodule then $`s^1W`$ is an $`R`$-submodule in $`U`$, because

$$Rs^1W=s^1sRs^1W=s^1RW=s^1W.$$

Since $`U`$ is simple, $`s^1W=\{0\}`$ or $`U`$. This implies that $`sU`$ is also simple. Hence $`V=U^{}`$ is a sum of simple $`R`$-modules and therefore is a semisimple $`R`$-module.

Step 2. The $`R`$-module $`V`$ is either isotypic or induced. Indeed, let us split the semisimple $`R`$-module $`V`$ into the direct sum

$$V=V_1\mathrm{}V_r$$

of its isotypic components. Dimension arguments imply that $`r\mathrm{dim}(V)=N`$. It follows easily from the arguments of the previous step that for each isotypic component $`V_i`$ its image $`sV_i`$ is an isotypic $`R`$-submodule for each $`sH`$ and therefore is contained in some $`V_j`$. Similarly, $`s^1V_j`$ is an isotypic submodule obviously containing $`V_i`$. Since $`V_i`$ is the isotypic component, $`s^1V_j=V_i`$ and therefore $`sV_i=V_j`$. This means that $`s`$ permutes the $`V_i`$; since $`V`$ is $`H`$-simple, $`H`$ permutes them transitively.

This implies that all $`V_i`$ have the same dimension $`N/r`$ and therefore $`r`$ divides $`\mathrm{dim}(V)=N`$. Let $`H^{}=H_i`$ be the stabilizer of $`V_i`$ in $`H`$, i.e.

$$H_i=\{sHsV_i=V_i\}.$$

The transitivity of the action of $`H`$ on $`V_j`$s implies that $`[H:H_i]=r`$.

If $`r=1`$ then $`H=H^{}=H_i`$. This means that $`sV_i=V_i`$ for all $`sH`$ and $`V=V_i`$ is isotypic.

Assume that $`r>1`$ and consider the $`H^{}`$-module $`W=V_i`$. Clearly, $`[H:H^{}]=[H:H_i]=r`$ divides $`N`$ and the $`H`$-module $`V`$ is iduced by $`W`$.

Step 3. Assume that $`r=N`$ and $`𝐅=𝐅_2`$. Then each $`V_i`$ is one-dimensional and contains exactly one non-zero vector say, $`v_i`$. Then the sum $`_{i=1}^Nv_i`$ is a non-zero $`H`$-invariant vector which contradicts the simplicity of the $`H`$-module $`V`$. ∎

###### Theorem 7.5.

Suppose $`H`$ is a group and

$$\rho :H\mathrm{Aut}_{𝐅_2}(V)$$

is an absolutely simple $`𝐅_2[H]`$-module of finite dimension $`N`$. Suppose there exists an $`𝐅_2`$-subalgebra $`R\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V)`$ containing the identity operator $`\mathrm{Id}`$ and such that

$$uRu^1RuH.$$

Assume, in addition, that $`H`$ does not have nontrivial cyclic quotients of order dividing $`N`$. If the $`R`$-module $`V`$ is isotypic then there exist $`𝐅_2[H]`$-modules $`V_1`$ and $`V_2`$ such that $`V`$, viewed as $`H`$-module, is isomorphic to $`V_1_{𝐅_2}V_2`$ and the image of $`R\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V)`$ under the induced isomorphism

$$\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V)=\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_1_{𝐅_2}V_2)=\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_1)_{𝐅_2}\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_2)$$

coincides with $`\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_1)\mathrm{Id}_{V_2}`$. In particular, if both $`V_1`$ and $`V_2`$ have dimension greater than $`1`$ then the $`H`$-module $`V`$ is not very simple.

###### Proof.

Since $`V`$ is isotypic, there exist a simple $`R`$-module $`W`$, a positive integer $`d`$ and an isomorphism

$$\psi :VW^d$$

of $`R`$-modules. Let us put

$$V_1=W,V_2=𝐅_2^d.$$

The isomorphism $`\psi `$ gives rise to the isomorphism of $`𝐅_2`$-vector spaces

$$V=W^d=W_{𝐅_2}𝐅_2^d=V_1_{𝐅_2}V_2.$$

We have

$$d\mathrm{dim}(W)=\mathrm{dim}(V)=N.$$

Clearly, $`\mathrm{End}_R(V)`$ is isomorphic to the matrix algebra $`\mathrm{Mat}_d(\mathrm{End}_R(W))`$ of size $`d`$ over $`\mathrm{End}_R(W)`$.

Let us put

$$k=\mathrm{End}_R(W).$$

Since $`W`$ is simple, $`k`$ is a finite-dimensional division algebra over $`𝐅_2`$. Therefore $`k`$ must be a finite field.

We have

$$\mathrm{End}_R(V)\mathrm{Mat}_d(k).$$

Clearly, $`[k:𝐅_2]`$ divides $`\mathrm{dim}_{𝐅_2}(W)`$ and therefore divides $`\mathrm{dim}_{𝐅_2}(V)=N`$. Clearly, $`\mathrm{Aut}(k/𝐅_2)`$ is always a cyclic group of order $`[k:𝐅_2]`$ and therefore has order dividing $`N`$.

Clearly, $`\mathrm{End}_R(V)\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V)`$ is stable under the adjoint action of $`H`$. This induces a homomorphism

$$\alpha :H\mathrm{Aut}_{𝐅_2}(\mathrm{End}_R(V))=\mathrm{Aut}_{𝐅_2}(\mathrm{Mat}_d(k)).$$

Since $`k`$ is the center of $`\mathrm{Mat}_d(k)`$, it is stable under the action of $`H`$, i.e., we get a homomorphism $`H\mathrm{Aut}(k/𝐅_2)`$, which must be trivial, since $`H`$ is perfect and $`\mathrm{Aut}(k/𝐅_2)`$ is a cyclic group of order dividing $`N`$ and therefore the kernel of the homomorphism must coincide with $`H`$. This implies that the center $`k`$ of $`\mathrm{End}_R(V)`$ commutes with $`H`$. Since $`\mathrm{End}_H(V)=𝐅_2`$, we have $`k=𝐅_2`$. This implies that $`\mathrm{End}_R(V)\mathrm{Mat}_d(𝐅_2)`$ and one may rewrite $`\alpha `$ as

$$\alpha :H\mathrm{Aut}_{𝐅_2}(\mathrm{Mat}_d(𝐅_2))=\mathrm{Aut}(\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_2))=\mathrm{Aut}_{𝐅_2}(V_2)/𝐅_2^{}=\mathrm{Aut}_{𝐅_2}(V_2).$$

It follows from the Jacobson density theorem that $`R=\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(W)\mathrm{Mat}_m(𝐅_2)`$ with $`dm=N`$.

The adjoint action of $`H`$ on $`R`$ gives rise to a homomorphism

$$\beta :H\mathrm{Aut}_{𝐅_2}(\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(W))=\mathrm{Aut}_{𝐅_2}(W)/𝐅_2^{}=\mathrm{Aut}_{𝐅_2}(W).$$

Clearly, $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ provide $`V_2`$ and $`V_1`$ respectively with the structure of $`H`$-modules. Notice that

$$R=\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_1)=\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_1)\mathrm{Id}_{V_2}\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_1)_{𝐅_2}\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_2)=\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V).$$

Now our task boils down to comparison of the structures of $`H`$-module on $`V=V_1_{𝐅_2}V_2`$ defined by $`\rho `$ and $`\beta \alpha `$ respectively. I claim that

$$\rho (g)=\beta (g)\alpha (g)gH.$$

Indeed, notice that the conjugation by $`\rho (g)`$ in $`\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V)=\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_1_{𝐅_2}V_2)`$ leaves stable $`R=\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_1)_{𝐅_2}\mathrm{Id}_{V_2}`$ and coincides on $`R`$ with the conjugation by $`\alpha (g)\mathrm{Id}_{V_2}`$. Since the centralizer of $`\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_1)\mathrm{Id}_{V_2}`$ in

$$\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V)=\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_1)_{𝐅_2}\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_2)$$

coincides with $`\mathrm{Id}_{V_1}\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_2)`$, there exists $`u\mathrm{Aut}_{𝐅_2}(V_2)`$ such that

$$\rho (g)=\beta (g)u.$$

Since the conjugation by $`\rho (g)`$ leaves stable the centralizer of $`R`$, i.e. $`\mathrm{Id}_{V_1}\mathrm{End}_{𝐅_2}(V_2)`$ and coincides on it with the conjugation by $`\mathrm{Id}_{V_1}\alpha (g)`$, there exists a non-zero constant $`\gamma 𝐅_2^{}`$ such that $`u=\gamma \beta (g)`$. This implies that

$$\rho (g)=\beta (g)u=\gamma \beta (g)\alpha (g).$$

Now one has only to recall that $`𝐅_2^{}=\{1\}`$ and therefore $`\gamma =1`$. ∎

###### Remark 7.6.

In the notations of Th. 7.5 the $`H`$-modules $`V_1`$ and $`V_2`$ must be absolutely simple. It follows easily from Remarks 7.3.

Lemma 7.4 and Theorem 7.5 together with Remark 7.6 imply easily the following criterion of very simplicity over $`𝐅_2`$.

###### Theorem 7.7.

Let $`H`$ be a group and $`V`$ be a $`𝐅_2[H]`$-module of finite dimension $`N`$ over $`𝐅_2`$. Assume, in addition, that $`H`$ does not have nontrivial cyclic quotients of order dividing $`N`$ (e.g., $`H`$ is perfect).

Then $`V`$ is very simple if and only if the following conditions hold:

1. The $`H`$-module $`V`$ is absolutely simple;
2. There do not exist a subgroup $`H^{}H`$ of $`H`$ and a $`𝐅_2[H^{}]`$-module $`V^{}`$ such that $`V`$ is induced by $`V^{}`$;
3. There do not exist absolutely simple $`𝐅_2[H]`$-modules $`V_1`$ and $`V_2`$, both of dimension greater than $`1`$ and such that the $`H`$-module $`V`$ is isomorphic to $`V_1_{𝐅_2}V_2`$.

Combining Theorem 7.7 with Lemma 7.4 and Theorem 7.5 we get easily the following corollary.

###### Corollary 7.8.

Let $`H`$ be a group and $`V`$ be a $`𝐅_2[H]`$-module of finite dimension $`N`$ over $`𝐅_2`$. Then $`V`$ is very simple if the following conditions hold:

1. The $`H`$-module $`V`$ is absolutely simple;
2. $`H`$ does not contain a subgroup of finite index $`r`$ with $`rN`$ and $`1<r<N`$. In addition, $`H`$ does not have cyclic quotients of order $`N`$, i.e., $`H`$ does not have a normal subgroup $`H^{}`$ of index $`N`$ with cyclic quotient $`H/H^{}`$;
3. There do not exist absolutely simple $`𝐅_2[H]`$-modules $`V_1`$ and $`V_2`$, both of dimension greater than $`1`$ and such that the $`H`$-module $`V`$ is isomorphic to $`V_1_{𝐅_2}V_2`$.

The following assertion follows easily from Lemma 7.4 and Theorem 7.5.

###### Corollary 7.9.

Suppose a positive integer $`N>1`$ and a group $`H`$ enjoy the following properties:

* $`H`$ does not contain a subgroup of index dividing $`N`$ except $`H`$ itself.
* Let $`N=ab`$ be a factorization of $`N`$ into a product of two positive integers $`a>1`$ and $`b>1`$. Then either there does not exist an absolutely simple $`𝐅_2[H]`$-module of $`𝐅_2`$-dimension $`a`$ or there does not exist an absolutely simple $`𝐅_2[H]`$-module of $`𝐅_2`$-dimension $`b`$.

Then each absolutely simple $`𝐅_2[H]`$-module of $`𝐅_2`$-dimension $`N`$ is very simple. In other words, in dimension $`N`$ the properties of absolute simplicity and very simplicity over $`𝐅_2`$ are equivalent.

The next two theorems provide examples of very simple Steinberg representations.

###### Theorem 7.10.

Let $`q=2^m8`$ be an integral power of $`2`$, let $`B`$ be a $`(q+1)`$-element set. Let $`G^{}`$ be a group acting faithfully on $`B`$. Assume that $`G^{}`$ contains a subgroup $`G`$ isomorphic to $`𝐋_2(q)`$. Then the $`G^{}`$-module $`Q_B`$ is very simple.

###### Proof.

We have $`𝐋_2(q)=GG^{}\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$. Clearly, it suffices to check that the $`𝐋_2(q)`$-module $`Q_B`$ is very simple.

First, notice that $`𝐋_2(q)`$ acts doubly transitively on $`B`$. Indeed, each subgroup of $`𝐋_2(q)`$ (except $`𝐋_2(q)`$ itself) has index $`q+1=\mathrm{\#}(B)`$ (, (6.27), p. 415). This implies that $`𝐋_2(q)`$ acts transitively on $`B`$. If the stabilizer $`G_b`$ of a point $`bB`$ has index $`q+1`$ then it follows easily from Th. 6.25 on p. 412 of ) that $`G_b`$ in conjugate to the (Borel) subgroup of upper-triangular matrices and therefore the $`𝐋_2(q)`$-set $`B`$ is isomorphic to the projective line $`𝐏^1(𝐅_q)`$ with the standard action of $`𝐋_2(q)`$ which is well-known to be doubly (and even triply) transitive. By Remark 4.5, this implies that the $`𝐅_2[𝐋_2(q)]`$-module $`Q_B`$ is absolutely simple. Recall that

$$\mathrm{dim}_{𝐅_2}(Q_B)=\mathrm{\#}(B)1=q=2^m.$$

By Theorem 6.2, there no absolutely simple nontrivial $`𝐅_2[𝐋_2(q)]`$-modules of dimension $`<2^m`$. This implies that $`Q_B`$ is not isomorphic to a tensor product of absolutely simple $`𝐅_2[𝐋_2(q)]`$-modules of dimension $`>1`$. Recall that all subgroups in $`𝐋_2(q)`$ different from $`𝐋_2(q)`$ have index $`q+1>q=\mathrm{dim}_{𝐅_2}(Q_B)`$. It follows from Corollary 7.8 that the $`G`$-module $`Q_B`$ is very simple. Since $`GG^{}`$, the $`G^{}`$-module $`Q_B`$ is also very simple. ∎

###### Theorem 7.11.

Let $`k`$ be a positive integer and $`q=2^{2k+1}`$, let $`B`$ be a $`(q^2+1)`$-element set. Let $`G^{}`$ be a group acting faithfully on $`B`$. Assume that $`G^{}`$ contains a subgroup $`G`$ isomorphic to $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)`$. Then the $`G^{}`$-module $`Q_B`$ is very simple.

###### Proof.

We have $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)=GG^{}\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$. First, notice that $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)`$ acts doubly transitively on $`B`$. Indeed, the classification of subgroups of Suzuki groups (, Remark 3.12(e), p. 194) implies that each subgroup of $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)`$ (except $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)`$ itself) has index $`q^2+1=\mathrm{\#}(B)`$. This implies that $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)`$ acts transitively on $`B`$. If the stabilizer $`G_b`$ of a point $`bB`$ has index $`q^2+1`$ then it follows easily from the same classification that $`G_b`$ is conjugate to the subgroup $`𝔉`$ generated by all $`S(a,b)`$ and $`M(\lambda )`$ and therefore the $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)`$-set $`B`$ is isomorphic to an ovoid $`𝒪=\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)/𝔉`$ where the action of $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)`$ is known to be doubly transitive (, Th. 3.3 on pp. 184–185 and steps g) and i) of its proof on p. 187). By Remark 4.5, this implies that the $`𝐅_2[\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)]`$-module $`Q_B`$ is absolutely simple. Recall that $`\mathrm{dim}_{𝐅_2}(Q_B)=\mathrm{\#}(B)1=q^2=2^{2(2k+1)}`$. By Theorem 6.3, there no absolutely simple nontrivial $`𝐅_2[\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)]`$-modules of dimension $`<2^{2(2k+1)}`$. This implies that $`Q_B`$ is not isomorphic to a tensor product of absolutely simple $`𝐅_2[\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)]`$-modules of dimension $`>1`$. Recall that all subgroups in $`G=\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)`$ (except $`\mathrm{𝐒𝐳}(q)`$ itself) have index $`q^2+1>q^2=\mathrm{dim}_{𝐅_2}(Q_B)`$. It follows from Corollary 7.8 that the $`G`$-module $`Q_B`$ is very simple. Since $`GG^{}`$, the $`G^{}`$-module $`Q_B`$ is also very simple. ∎

###### Proof of Theorem 5.4.

The cases (i) and (ii) of Theorem 5.4 follow from Theorems 7.10 and 7.11 respectively applied to $`G^{}=H`$. ∎

In light of Corollary 5.3 it would be interesting to classify all permutation subgroups $`G\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$ with very simple $`G`$-modules $`Q_B`$. We finish the paper by examples of very simple $`Q_B`$ attached to Mathieu groups $`\mathrm{M}_{11}`$ and $`\mathrm{M}_{12}`$ and to related group $`𝐋_2(11)=\mathrm{PSL}_2(11)`$.

###### Theorem 7.12.

Let $`n`$ be a positive integer, $`B`$ a $`n`$-element set, $`G\mathrm{Perm}(B)`$ a permutation group. Assume that $`(n,G)`$ enjoy one of the following properties:

1. $`n=11`$ and $`G`$ is isomorphic either to $`𝐋_2(11)`$ or $`\mathrm{M}_{11}`$;
2. $`n=12`$ and either $`G\mathrm{M}_{12}`$ or $`G\mathrm{M}_{11}`$ and $`G`$ acts transitively on $`B`$.

Then the $`G`$-module $`Q_B`$ is very simple.

###### Proof.

Assume that $`n=11`$. Since $`M_{11}`$ contains a subgroup isomorphic to $`𝐋_2(11)`$ (, p. 18), it suffices to check the case of $`G=𝐋_2(11)`$, in light of Remark 2.2(iii).

The group $`G=𝐋_2(11)`$ has two conjugacy classes of maximal subgroups of index $`11`$ and all other subgroups in $`G`$ have index greater than $`11`$ (, p. 7). Therefore all subgroups in $`G`$ (except $`G`$ itself) have index greater than $`10`$ and the action of $`G`$ on the $`11`$-element set $`B`$ is transitive. The permutation character (in both cases) is (in notations of , p. 7) $`1+\chi _5`$, i.e., $`\chi =\chi _5`$. The restriction of $`\chi _5`$ to the set of $`2`$-regular elements coincides with absolutely irreducible Brauer character $`\phi _4`$ (in notations of , p. 7). In particular, the corresponding $`G`$-module $`Q_B`$ is absolutely simple and has dimension $`10`$. Since $`10=25`$ and $`5`$ is a prime, the very simplicity of the $`G`$-module $`Q_B`$ follows from Th. 5.4 of . This proves the case (i).

Assume that $`n=12`$.

Suppose $`G=\mathrm{M}_{11}`$ and the action of $`G`$ on the $`12`$-element set $`B`$ is transitive. All subgroups $`G_b`$ in $`G`$ of index $`12`$ are isomorphic to $`𝐋_2(11)`$ (, p. 18). It follows from the already proven case (i) for $`𝐋_2(11)`$ and Remark 4.4 that the $`G`$-module $`Q_B`$ is very simple.

Suppose $`G=\mathrm{M}_{12}`$. The action of $`G`$ on the $`12`$-element $`B`$ is transitive, since all subgroups in $`G`$ (except $`G`$ itself) have index $`12`$. All subgroups $`G_b`$ in $`G`$ of index $`12`$ are isomorphic to $`\mathrm{M}_{11}`$ (, p. 33). It follows from the already proven case (i) for $`\mathrm{M}_{11}`$ and Remark 4.4 that the $`G`$-module $`Q_B`$ is very simple. ∎

Combining Corollary 5.3 and Theorem 7.12 (with $`B=,G=\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ and taking into account that the irreducibility of $`f`$ means that $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ acts transitively on $``$), we obtain the following statement.

###### Theorem 7.13.

Let $`K`$ be a field with $`\mathrm{char}(K)2`$, $`K_a`$ its algebraic closure, $`f(x)K[x]`$ an irreducible separable polynomial of degree $`n5`$. Let $`=_fK_a`$ be the set of roots of $`f`$, let $`K(_f)=K()`$ be the splitting field of $`f`$ and $`\mathrm{Gal}(f):=\mathrm{Gal}(K()/K)`$ the Galois group of $`f`$, viewed as a subgroup of $`\mathrm{Perm}()`$. Let $`C_f`$ be the hyperelliptic curve $`y^2=f(x)`$. Let $`J(C_f)`$ be its jacobian, $`\mathrm{End}(J(C_f))`$ the ring of $`K_a`$-endomorphisms of $`J(C_f)`$.

Assume that $`n`$ and $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ enjoy one of the following properties:

1. $`n=11`$ and $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ is isomorphic either to $`𝐋_2(11)`$ or to $`\mathrm{M}_{11}`$;
2. $`n=12`$ and $`\mathrm{Gal}(f)`$ is isomorphic either to $`\mathrm{M}_{11}`$ or to $`\mathrm{M}_{12}`$;

Then either $`\mathrm{End}(J(C_f))=𝐙`$ or $`\mathrm{char}(K)>0`$ and $`J(C_f)`$ is a supersingular abelian variety.