2-Cohomologies of the groups SL(n, q)

Let G = SL(n, q), where q is odd, V be a natural module over G, and L = S²(V) be its symmetric square. We construct a 2-cohomology group H²(G, L). The group is one-dimensional over F _q if n = 2 and q ≠ 3, and also if (n, q) = (4, 3). In all other cases H²(G, L) = 0. Previously, such groups H²(G, L) were known for the cases where n = 2 or q = p is prime. We state that H²(G, L) are trivial for n ⩾ 3 and q = p^m, m ⩾ 2. In proofs, use is made of rather elementary (noncohomological) methods. __________ Translated from Algebra i Logika, Vol. 47, No. 6, pp. 687–704, November–December, 2008.