Verifying Huppert's Conjecture for PSL3(q) and PSU3(q 2)

Let G be a finite group and cd(G) be the set of irreducible character degrees of G. Bertram Huppert conjectured that if H is a finite nonabelian simple group such that cd(G) = cd(H), then G ? H × A, where A is an abelian group. We examine arguments to verify this conjecture for the simple groups of Lie type of rank two. To illustrate our arguments, we extend Huppert's results and verify the conjecture for the simple linear and unitary groups of rank two.     

Nonsolvable Groups All of Whose Character Degrees are Odd-Square-Free

A finite group G is odd-square-free if no irreducible complex character of G has degree divisible by the square of an odd prime. We determine all odd-square-free groups G satisfying S ≤ G ≤ Aut(S) for a finite simple group S. More generally, we show that if G is any nonsolvable odd-square-free group, then G has at most two nonabelian chief factors and these must be simple odd-square-free groups. If the alternating group A ₇ is involved in G, the structure of G can be further restricted.     

On nonabelian simple groups having the same prime graph as an alternating group

All instances of coincidence between the prime graphs of nonabelian simple groups G and S are found, where G is an alternating group of degree n ≥ 5 and S is a nonabelian finite simple group. The precise bound of the maximal number of pairwise nonisomorphic nonabelian simple groups with the same prime graph is given in the case that one of these groups is an alternating group.     

Verifying Huppert’s Conjecture for PSp<Subscript>4</Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">q</Emphasis>) when <Emphasis Type="Italic">q</Emphasis> > 7

Let G denote a finite group and cd (G) the set of irreducible character degrees of G. Bertram Huppert conjectured that if H is a finite nonabelian simple group such that cd (G) = cd (H), then G ≅ H × A, where A is an abelian group. Huppert verified the conjecture for PSp₄(q) when q = 3, 4, 5, or 7. In this paper, we extend Huppert’s results and verify the conjecture for PSp₄(q) for all q. This demonstrates progress toward the goal of verifying the conjecture for all nonabelian simple groups of Lie type of rank two.     

Primitive permutation groups of simple diagonal type

LetG be a finite primitive group such that there is only one minimal normal subgroupM inG, thisM is nonabelian and nonsimple, and a maximal normal subgroup ofM is regular. Further, letH be a point stabilizer inG. ThenH∩M is a (nonabelian simple) common complement inM to all the maximal normal subgroups ofM, and there is a natural identification ofM with a direct powerT ^m of a nonabelian simple groupT in whichH∩M becomes the “diagonal” subgroup ofT ^m: this is the origin of the title. It is proved here that two abstractly isomorphic primitive groups of this type are permutationally isomorphic if (and obviously only if) their point stabilizers are abstractly isomorphic. GivenT ^m, consider first the set of all permutational isomorphism classes of those primitive groups of this type whose minimal normal subgroups are abstractly isomorphic toT ^m. Secondly, form the direct productS _m×OutT of the symmetric group of degreem and the outer automorphism group ofT (so OutT=AutT/InnT), and consider the set of the conjugacy classes of those subgroups inS _m×OutT whose projections inS _m are primitive. The second result of the paper is that there is a bijection between these two sets. The third issue discussed concerns the number of distinct permutational isomorphism classes of groups of this type, which can fall into a single abstract isomorphism class.     

On Finite Nonabelian Loop Capable Groups

We say that groups, which are isomorphic to inner mapping groups of finite loops, are loop capable. Let p and q be distinct prime numbers, S a nonabelian group of order pq, and C a finite nontrivial cyclic group such that gcd (|S|, |C|) = 1. We show that the group S × C is not loop capable.     

Verifying Huppert’s Conjecture for <Superscript>2</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">q</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript>)

Let G be a finite group and cd(G) be the set of irreducible character degrees of G. Bertram Huppert conjectured that if H is a finite nonabelian simple group such that cd(G) = cd(H), then G ≅ H×A, where A is an abelian group. In this paper, we verify the conjecture for the twisted Ree groups ² G ₂(q ²) for q ² = 3^2m + 1, m ≥ 1. The argument involves verifying five steps outlined by Huppert in his arguments establishing his conjecture for many of the nonabelian simple groups.     

On locally primitive Cayley graphs of finite simple groups

In this paper we investigate locally primitive Cayley graphs of finite nonabelian simple groups. First, we prove that, for any valency d for which the Weiss conjecture holds (for example, d?20 or d is a prime number by Conder, Li and Praeger (2000) [1]), there exists a finite list of groups such that if G is a finite nonabelian simple group not in this list, then every locally primitive Cayley graph of valency d on G is normal. Next we construct an infinite family of p-valent non-normal locally primitive Cayley graph of the alternating group for all prime p?5. Finally, we consider locally primitive Cayley graphs of finite simple groups with valency 5 and determine all possible candidates of finite nonabelian simple groups G such that the Cayley graph Cay(G,S) might be non-normal.     

Quasirecognition of One Class of Finite Simple Groups by the Set of Element Orders

We prove that a finite group, having the same set of element orders as a finite simple group L and the prime graph with at least three connected components, possesses a (unique) nonabelian composition factor which is isomorphic to L, unless L is isomorphic to the alternating group of degree 6.     

On Isomorphisms of Finite Cayley Graphs

A Cayley graph Cay(G,S) of a groupGis called a CI-graph if wheneverTis another subset ofGfor which Cay(G,S) Cay(G,T), there exists an automorphism σ ofGsuch thatS^σ = T. For a positive integerm, the groupGis said to have them-CI property if all Cayley graphs ofGof valencymare CI-graphs; further, ifGhas thek-CI property for allk ≤ m, thenGis called anm-CI-group, and a |G|-CI-groupGis called a CI-group. In this paper, we prove that Ais not a 5-CI-group, that SL(2,5) is not a 6-CI-group, and that all finite 6-CI-groups are soluble. Then we show that a nonabelian simple group has the 4-CI property if and only if it is A₅, and that no nonabelian simple group has the 5-CI property. Also we give nine new examples of CI-groups of small order, which were found to be CI-groups with the assistance of a computer.     

Fusions of Character Tables and Schur Rings of Abelian Groups

If the character table of a finite group H satisfies certain conditions, then the classes and characters of H can fuse to give the character table of a group G of the same order. We investigate the case where H is an abelian group. The theory is developed in terms of the S-rings of Schur and Wielandt. We discuss certain classes of p-groups which fuse from abelian groups and give examples of such groups which do not. We also show that a large class of simple groups do not fuse from abelian groups. The methods to show fusion include the use of extensions which are Camina pairs, but other techniques on S-rings are also developed.     

Über Eine Klasse Endlicher Absoluter Geometrien

LetG be a finite group which is generated by a subsetS of involutions satisfying the theorem of the three reflections: Ifa,b,x,y,z S, ab 1 and ifabx,aby,abz are involutions, thenxyz S. Assume thatS contains three elements which generate a four-group. ThenS is a class of conjugate elements ofG if and only ifG/Z(G) is a non-abelian simple group. Moreover,G/Z(G) is a nonabelian simple group ifG is not isomorphic to any PGL₂(n).     

A note on TI-subgroups of finite groups

A subgroup H of a finite group G is called a TI-subgroup if H ∩ H ^x  = 1 or H for any x ∈ G. In this short note, the finite groups all of whose nonabelian subgroups are TI-subgroups are classified.     

Permutation groups,simple groups,and sieve methods

We show that the number of integersn≤x which occur as indices of subgroups of nonabelian finite simple groups, excluding that ofA _n−1 inA _n , is ∼hx/logx, for some given constanth. This might be regarded as a noncommutative analogue of the Prime Number Theorem (which counts indicesn≤x of subgroups of abelian simple groups). We conclude that for most positive integersn, the only quasiprimitive permutation groups of degreen areS _n andA _n in their natural action. This extends a similar result for primitive permutation groups obtained by Cameron, Neumann and Teague in 1982. Our proof combines group-theoretic and number-theoretic methods. In particular, we use the classification of finite simple groups, and we also apply sieve methods to estimate the size of some interesting sets of primes. Research partially supported by the Australian Research Council for C.E.P. and by the Bi-National Science Foundation United States-Israel Grant 2000-053 for A.S.     

On Composition Factors of Finite Groups Having the Same Set of Element Orders as the Group U3(q)

We study the composition factors of a finite nonsolvable group having the same set of order elements as the simple unitary group U ₃(q) for an odd q. We prove in particular that for q>5 the (only) nonabelian composition factor of such a group is isomorphic to U ₃(q).     

Finite groups with weakly <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-quasinormal subgroups

We introduce a new subgroup embedding property in a finite group called weakly S-quasinormality. We say a subgroup H of a finite group G is weakly S-quasinormal in G if there exists a normal subgroup K such that HK ⊴ G and H ∩ K is S-quasinormally embedded in G. We use the new concept to investigate the properties of some finite groups. Some previously known results are generalized.     

A note on the order of the antipode of a pointed Hopf algebra

Let k be a field and let H denote a pointed Hopf k-algebra with antipode S. We are interested in determining the order of S. Building on the work done by Taft and Wilson in [7], we define an invariant for H, denoted m_H, and prove that the value of this invariant is connected to the order of S. In the case where char k?=?0, it is shown that if S has finite order then it is either the identity or has order 2?m_H. If in addition H is assumed to be coradically graded, it is shown that the order of S is finite if and only if m_H is finite. We also consider the case where char k?=?p?>?0, generalizing the results of [7] to the infinite-dimensional setting.     

On finite groups isospectral to simple symplectic and orthogonal groups

The spectrum of a finite group is the set of its element orders. Two groups are said to be isospectral if their spectra coincide. We deal with the class of finite groups isospectral to simple and orthogonal groups over a field of an arbitrary positive characteristic p. It is known that a group of this class has a unique nonabelian composition factor. We prove that this factor cannot be isomorphic to an alternating or sporadic group. We also consider the case where this factor is isomorphic to a group of Lie type over a field of the same characteristic p.     

Finite Groups with Some S-quasinormally Embedded Subgroups

Suppose that G is a finite group and H is a subgroup of G. H is said to be S-quasinormal in G if it permutes with every Sylow subgroup of G; H is said to be S-quasinormally embedded in G if for each prime p dividing |H|, a Sylow p-subgroup of H is also a Sylow p-subgroup of some S-quasinormal subgroup of G. We investigate the influence of S-quasinormally embedded subgroups on the structure of finite groups. Some recent results are generalized.     

On finite groups isospectral to simple linear and unitary groups

Let L be a simple linear or unitary group of dimension larger than 3 over a finite field of characteristic p. We deal with the class of finite groups isospectral to L. It is known that a group of this class has a unique nonabelian composition factor. We prove that if L ≠ U ₄(2), U ₅(2) then this factor is isomorphic to either L or a group of Lie type over a field of characteristic different from p.