Representation rings for fusion systems and dimension functions

Abstract

We define the representation ring of a saturated fusion system $\mathcal F$ as the Grothendieck ring of the semiring of $\mathcal F$-stable representations, and study the dimension functions of $\mathcal F$-stable representations using the transfer map induced by the characteristic idempotent of $\mathcal F$. We find a list of conditions for an $\mathcal F$-stable super class function to be realized as the dimension function of an $\mathcal F$-stable virtual representation. We also give an application of our results to constructions of finite group actions on homotopy spheres.