arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M. A. Pellegrini.
We prove that every finite simple group of Lie type $G$ can be generated by three regular unipotent elements. In certain cases we show that two regular unipotents are sufficient to generate $G$.
The complete classification of the finite simple groups that are $(2,3)$-generated is a problem which is still open only for orthogonal groups. Here, we construct $(2, 3)$-generators for the finite odd-dimensional orthogonal groups $Ω_{2k+1}(q)$, $k\geq 4$. As a byproduct we also obtain $(2,3)$-generators for $Ω_{4k}^+(q)$ with $k\geq 3$ and $q$ odd, and for $Ω_{4k+2}^\pm(q)$ with $k\geq 4$ and $q\equiv \pm 1 \pmod 4$.
In this paper we consider the seating couple problem with an even number of seats, which, using graph theory terminology, can be stated as follows. Given a positive even integer $v=2n$ and a list $L$ containing $n$ positive integers not exceeding $n$, is it always possible to find a perfect matching of $K_v$ whose list of edge-lengths is $L$? Up to now a (non-constructive) solution is known only when all the edge-lengths are coprime with $v$. In this paper we firstly present some necessary conditions for the existence of a solution. Then, we give a complete constructive solution when the list consists of one or two distinct elements, and when the list consists of consecutive integers $1,2,\ldots,x$, each one appearing with the same multiplicity. Finally, we propose a conjecture and some open problems.
We construct $(2,3)$-generators for the finite $8$-dimensional orthogonal groups, proving the following results: the groups $Ω_8^+(q)$ and $PΩ_8^+(q)$ are $(2,3)$-generated if and only if $q\geq 4$; the groups $Ω_8^-(q)$ and $PΩ_8^-(q)$ are $(2,3)$-generated for all $q\geq 2$.
This paper is a new important step towards the complete classification of the finite simple groups which are $(2, 3)$-generated. In fact, we prove that the symplectic groups $Sp_{2n}(q)$ are $(2,3)$-generated for all $n\geq 4$. Because of the existing literature, this result implies that the groups $PSp_{2n}(q)$ are $(2,3)$-generated for all $n\geq 2$, with the exception of $PSp_4(2^f)$ and $PSp_4(3^f)$.
In this paper we prove that the unitary groups $SU_n(q^2)$ are $(2,3)$-generated for any prime power $q$ and any integer $n\geq 8$. By previous results this implies that, if $n\geq 3$, the groups $SU_n(q^2)$ and $PSU_n(q^2)$ are $(2,3)$-generated, except when $(n,q)\in\{(3,2),(3,3),(3,5),(4,2), (4,3),(5,2)\}$.
Given a regular subgroup R of AGL_n(F), one can ask if R contains nontrivial translations. A negative answer to this question was given by Liebeck, Praeger and Saxl for AGL_2(p) (p a prime), AGL_3(p) (p odd) and for AGL_4(2). A positive answer was given by Hegedus for AGL_n(p) when n >= 4 if p is odd and for n=3 or n >= 5 if p=2. A first generalization to finite fields of Hegedus' construction was recently obtained by Catino, Colazzo and Stefanelli. In this paper we give examples of such subgroups in AGL_n(F) for any n >= 5 and any field F. For n < 5 we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for their existence, assuming R to be unipotent if char F=0.
This paper is a new contribution to the study of regular subgroups of the affine group $AGL_n(F)$, for any field $F$. In particular we associate to any partition $λ\neq (1^{n+1})$ of $n+1$ abelian regular subgroups in such a way that different partitions define non-conjugate subgroups. Moreover, we classify the regular subgroups of certain natural types for $n\leq 4$. Our classification is equivalent to the classification of split local algebras of dimension $n+1$ over $F$. Our methods, based on classical results of linear algebra, are computer free.
This paper continues previous work, based on systematic use of a formula of L. Scott, to detect Hurwitz groups. It closes the problem of determining the finite simple groups contained in $PGL_n(F)$ for $n\leq 7$ which are Hurwitz, where $F$ is an algebraically closed field. For the groups $G_2(q)$, $q\geq 5$, and the Janko groups $J_1$ and $J_2$ it provides explicit $(2,3,7)$-generators.
In this paper we determine the classical simple groups of dimension r=3,5 which are (2,3)-generated (the cases r = 2, 4 are known). If r = 3, they are PSL_3(q), q <> 4, and PSU_3(q^2), q^2 <> 9, 25. If r = 5 they are PSL_5(q), for all q, and PSU_5(q^2), q^2 >= 9. Also, the soluble group PSU_3(4) is not (2,3)-generated. We give explicit (2,3)-generators of the linear preimages, in the special linear groups, of the (2,3)-generated simple groups.
In this paper we give explicit (2,3)-generators of the unitary groups SU_6(q^ 2), for all q. They fit into a uniform sequence of likely (2,3)-generators for all n>= 6.
In representation theory of finite groups an important role is played by irreducible characters of p-defect 0, for a prime p dividing the group order. These are exactly those vanishing at the p-singular elements. In this paper we generalize this notion investigating the irreducible characters that are constant at the p-singular elements. We determine all such characters of non-zero defect for alternating, symmetric and sporadic simple groups. We also classify the irreducible characters of quasi-simple groups of Lie type that are constant on the non-identity unipotent elements. In particular, we show that for groups of BN-pair rank greater than 2 the Steinberg and the trivial characters are the only characters in question. Additionally, we determine all irreducible characters whose degrees differ by 1 from the degree of the Steinberg character.
Let G be a finite simple group of Lie type. In this paper we study characters of G that vanish at the non-semisimple elements and whose degree is equal to the order of a maximal unipotent subgroup of G. Such characters can be viewed as a natural generalization of the Steinberg character. For groups G of small rank we also determine the characters of this degree vanishing only at the non-identity unipotent elements.
In this paper we determine the irreducible projective representations of sporadic simple groups over an arbitrary algebraically closed field F, whose image contains an almost cyclic matrix of prime-power order. A matrix M is called cyclic if its characteristic and minimum polynomials coincide, and we call M almost cyclic if, for a suitable a in F, M is similar to diag(a Id_h, M_1), where M_1 is cyclic and 0 <= h <= n. The paper also contains results on the generation of sporadic simple groups by minimal sets of conjugate elements.
In this paper we study the (2,k)-generation of the finite classical groups SL(4,q), Sp(4,q), SU(4,q^2) and their projective images. Here k is the order of an arbitrary element of SL(2,q), subject to the necessary condition k>= 3. When q is even we allow also k=4.