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3 - The spread of finite and infinite groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2024

By
Scott Harper
Edited by
C. M. Campbell ,
M. R. Quick ,
E. F. Robertson ,
C. M. Roney-Dougal  and
D. I. Stewart
C. M. Campbell
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
M. R. Quick
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
E. F. Robertson
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
C. M. Roney-Dougal
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
D. I. Stewart
Affiliation:
University of Manchester
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Summary

It is well known that every finite simple group has a generating pair. Moreover, Guralnick and Kantor proved that every finite simple group has the stronger property, known as $\frac{3}{2}$-generation, that every nontrivial element is contained in a generating pair. More recently, this result has been generalised in three different directions, which form the basis of this survey article. First, we look at some stronger forms of $\frac{3}{2}$-generation that the finite simple groups satisfy, which are described in terms of spread and uniform domination. Next, we discuss the recent classification of the finite $\frac{3}{2}$-generated groups. Finally, we turn our attention to infinite groups, and we focus on the recent discovery that the finitely presented simple groups of Thompson are also $\frac{3}{2}$-generated, as are many of their generalisations. Throughout the article we pose open questions in this area, and we highlight connections with other areas of group theory.

Keywords

group generationspreadsimple groupThompsons groups
Type
Chapter
Information
Groups St Andrews 2022 in Newcastle , pp. 74 - 117
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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