Generating triples of involutions for lie-type groups over a finite field of odd characteristic. I

It is proved that a simple Lie-type group of rank l≤4 over a field of odd characteristic is generated by three involutions of which two are commuting. As a consequence, the following results obtains: G is generated by two elements one of which is an involution and the order of the other is at most 2h, where h is the Coxeter number of a root system associated with G. Supported by RFFR grant No. 94-01-01084. Translated fromAlgebra i Logika, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 77–96, January–February, 1997.