Loewy lengths of centers of blocks

Abstract

Let B be a block of a finite group with respect to an algebraically closed field F of characteristic p>0. In a recent paper, Otokita gave an upper bound for the Loewy length LL(ZB) of the center ZB of B in terms of a defect group D of B. We refine his methods in order to prove the optimal bound LL(ZB)\le LL(FD) whenever D is abelian. We also improve Otokita's bound for non-abelian defect groups. As an application we classify the blocks B such that LL(ZB)\ge |D|/2.