Triples in Finite Groups and a Conjecture of Guralnick and Tiep

Abstract

In this thesis, we will see a way to use representation theory and the theory of linear algebraic groups to characterize certain family of finite groups. In Chapter 1, we see the history of preceding work. In particular, J. G. Thompson’s classification of minimal finite simple nonsolvable groups and characterization of solvable groups will be given. In Chapter 2, we will describe some background knowledge underlying this project and notation that will be widely used in this thesis. In Chapter 3, the main theorem originally conjectured by Guralnick and Tiep will be stated together with the base theorem which is a reduced version of main theorem to the case where we have a quasisimple group. Main theorem explains a way to characterize the finite groups with a composition factor of order divisible by two distinct primes p and q as the finite groups containing nontrivial 2-element x, p-element y, q-element z such that xyz = 1. In this thesis we more focus on the proof of showing a finite group G with a composition factor of order divisible by two distinct prime p and q contains nontrivial 2-element x, p-element y, q-element z such that xyz = 1. In Chapter 4, we will prove a set of lemmas and proposition which will be used as key tools in the proof of the base theorem. In Chapters 5 to 7, we will establish the base theorem in the cases where a quasisimple group G has its simple quotient isomorphic to alternating groups or sporadic groups (Chapter 5), classical groups (Chapter 6), and exceptional groups (Chapter 7). In Chapter 8, we show that any finite group G admitting nontrivial 2-element x, p- element y, q-element z such that xyz = 1 for two distinct odd primes p and q admits a composition factor of order divisible by pq. Also, we show that the question if a finite group G with a composition factor of order divisible by two distinct prime p and q contains nontrivial 2-element x, p-element y, q-element z such that xyz = 1 can be reduced to the base theorem.