The probability of generating a finite simple group (Q1900055): Difference between revisions

In the paper [Math. Z. 110, 199-205 (1969; Zbl 0176.29901)] the reviewer proved that a pair of randomly chosen elements from the alternating \(A_n\) generates \(A_n\) with probability tending to 1 as \(n\to\infty\). He conjectured that a similar result is true for the other infinite classes of finite simple groups. This conjecture was verified for the classical simple groups and for small rank exceptional groups by \textit{W. M. Kantor} and \textit{A. Lubotzky} [Geom. Dedicata 36, 67-87 (1990; Zbl 0718.20011)]. The authors of the present paper have finally settled the remaining cases to show that the following slightly stronger statement is true. Let \(G_0\) be a finite simple group, and let \(G\) be a group such that \(G_0\leq G\leq\Aut(G_0)\). Then the probability that two randomly chosen elements of \(G\) generate a subgroup containing \(G_0\) tends to 1 as \(|G|\to\infty\). The proof requires, of course, the classification of finite simple groups as well as detailed properties of the groups in question.