Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 November 2002
We shall introduce a p-local geometry Δp(G) for the pair (G, p) of a finite group G and a prime divisor p of the order of G, which is constructed by ‘maximal parabolic like’ subgroups of G. Under the natural hypothesis, Δp(G) behaves very much like the building associated with a group of Lie type in characteristic p. We shall also show that, under some hypothesis, Δp(G) is homotopy equivalent to the subgroup complex [Bscr ]cenp(G) which is a more essential part of the p-radical complex [Bscr ]p(G). Some of the p-local sporadic geometries can be understood well in our system.