Hopf-Galois structures on finite extensions with almost simple Galois group

Abstract

In this paper, we study the Hopf-Galois structures on a finite Galois extension whose Galois group $G$ is an almost simple group in which the socle $A$ has prime index $p$. Each Hopf-Galois structure is associated to a group $N$ of the same order as $G$. We give necessary criteria on these $N$ in terms of their group-theoretic properties, and determine the number of Hopf-Galois structures associated to $A\times C_p$, where $C_p$ is the cyclic group of order $p$.