Related papers: On generators and representations of the sporadic …

This paper is a significant contribution to a general programme aimed to classify all projective irreducible representations of finite simple groups over an algebraically closed field, in which the image of at least one element is…

This paper is a significant part of a general project aimed to classify all irreducible representations of finite quasi-simple groups over an algebraically closed field, in which the image of at least one element is represented by an almost…

Let $H$ be a linear algebraic group whose connected component $G\neq 1$ is simple and $H/G$ is cyclic. We determine the irreducible projective representations $\phi$ of $H$ such that $\phi(G)$ is irreducible and $\phi(h)$ has simple…

We study the spectra of non-regular semisimple elements in irreducible representations of simple algebraic groups. More precisely, we prove that if G is a simply connected simple linear algebraic group and f is a non-trivial irreducible…

A group G is almost cyclic if there is an element x in G, such that for all g in G, there is an element y in G and an integer n with ygy^{-1} = x^n (that is, every element is conjugate to some power of x). W. Ziller asked whether there are…

We describe the collection of finite simple groups, with a view on physical applications. We recall first the prime cyclic groups $Z_p$, and the alternating groups $Alt_{n>4}$. After a quick revision of finite fields $\mathbb{F}_q$, $q =…

Many groups possess highly symmetric generating sets that are naturally endowed with an underlying combinatorial structure. Such generating sets can prove to be extremely useful both theoretically in providing new existence proofs for…

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…

The dominant theme of this thesis is the construction of matrix representations of finite solvable groups using a suitable system of generators. For a finite solvable group $G$ of order $N = p_{1}p_{2}\dots p_{n}$, where $p_{i}$'s are…

As is well known, any complex cyclic matrix $A$ is similar to the unique companion matrix associated with the minimal polynomial of $A$. On the other hand, a cyclic matrix over a division ring $\mathbb F$ is similar to a companion matrix of…

The chief aim of this paper is to describe a procedure which, given a $d$-dimensional absolutely irreducible matrix representation of a finite group over a finite field $\mathbb{E}$, produces an equivalent representation such that all…

A matrix is said to be {\it cyclic} if its characteristic polynomial is equal to its minimal polynomial. Cyclic matrices play an important role in some algorithms for matrix group computation, such as the Cyclic Meataxe developed by P. M.…

Let G be a finite group. It has recently been proved that every nontrivial element of G is contained in a generating set of minimal size if and only if all proper quotients of G require fewer generators than G. It is natural to ask which…

We identify the sporadic groups M(23) and F_2 from the approximate structure of the centralizer of an element of order 3.

Denote the alternating and symmetric groups of degree $n$ by $A_n$ and $S_n$ respectively. Consider a permutation $\sigma\in S_n$ all of whose nontrivial cycles are of the same length. We find the minimal polynomials of $\sigma$ in the…

Extending earlier results of the authors on minimal polynomials of $p$-elements of finite groups of Lie type in cross-characteristic representations, this paper focuses on the case where Sylow $p$-subgroups are cyclic and $p$ is distinct…

A group $G$ is said to be $\frac{3}{2}$-generated if every nontrivial element belongs to a generating pair. It is easy to see that if $G$ has this property then every proper quotient of $G$ is cyclic. In this paper we prove that the…

As defined by Guralnick and Saxl, given a nonabelian simple group $S$ and its nonidentity automorphism $x$, a natural number $\alpha_S(x)$ is the minimum number of conjugates of $x$ in $\langle x,S\rangle$ that generate a subgroup…

The prime graph of a finite group $G$ is the labelled graph $\Gamma(G)$ with vertices the prime divisors of $|G|$ and edges the pairs $\{p,q\}$ for which $G$ contains an element of order $pq$. A group $G$ is recognisable by its prime graph…

We give analogues in the finite general linear group of two elementary results concerning long cycles and transpositions in the symmetric group: first, that the long cycles are precisely the elements whose minimum-length factorizations into…