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Simple Groups, Generation and Probabilistic Methods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2019

By
Timothy C. Burness
Edited by
C. M. Campbell ,
C. W. Parker ,
M. R. Quick ,
E. F. Robertson  and
C. M. Roney-Dougal
C. M. Campbell
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
C. W. Parker
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham
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
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Summary

It is well known that every finite simple group can be generated by two elements and this leads to a wide range of problems that have been the focus of intensive research in recent years. In this survey article we discuss some of the extraordinary generation properties of simple groups, focussing on topics such as random generation, (a, b)-generation and spread, as well as highlighting the application of probabilistic methods in the proofs of many of the main results. We also present some recent work on the minimal generation of maximal and second maximal subgroups of simple groups, which has applications to the study of subgroup growth and the generation of primitive permutation groups.

Type
Chapter
Information
Groups St Andrews 2017 in Birmingham , pp. 200 - 229
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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