Factorizing a finite group into conjugates of a subgroup. (Q406354): Difference between revisions

A non-nilpotent finite group \(G\) contains a proper subgroup \(H\) of \(G\) and \(k\) conjugates \(H_1,\ldots,H_k\) of \(H\) in \(G\) such that \(G\) equals the product \(H_1\cdots H_k\). Let \(\gamma_{cp}(G)\) be the smallest \(k\) for which there exists a proper subgroup \(H\) of \(G\) with this property. In the paper under review, the authors prove that if \(G\) is non-solvable then \(\gamma_{cp}(G)\) is bounded by a constant, namely \(\gamma_{cp}(G)\leq 36\). This is done by reducing the problem to almost-simple groups and then by treating such groups separately using the classification of finite simple groups. They show that \(\gamma_{cp}(G)=3\) for all \(2\)-transitive groups \(G\), in particular for the alternating and symmetric groups. For groups of Lie type they use [\textit{M. W. Liebeck} and \textit{L. Pyber}, Duke Math. J. 107, No. 1, 159-171 (2001; Zbl 1017.20039)] where it is shown that any finite simple group of Lie type in characteristic \(p\) is a product of at most \(25\) of its Sylow \(p\)-subgroups. The bound \(36\) comes from one of the sporadic almost-simple groups: using a general argument involving the rank of a transitive permutation representation the authors prove that if \(G\) is any almost-simple sporadic group then \(\gamma_{cp}(G)\leq\gamma_{cp}(\Aut(O'N))\leq 36\). The authors also prove that \(\gamma_{cp}(G)\) is unbounded for \(G\) ranging in the family of solvable non-nilpotent groups: for instance for \(p\) an odd prime, denoting \(D_{2p}\) the dihedral group of order \(2p\), \(\gamma_{cp}(D_{2p})=1+\lceil\log_2p\rceil\). They also prove the upper bound \(\gamma_{cp}(G)\leq 4\log_2|G|\) for \(G\) any solvable non-nilpotent group.