On finite subgroups of the classical groups. (Q2352886): Difference between revisions

In 1878, Jordan showed that a finite subgroup of \(\mathrm{GL}(n,\mathbb C)\) must possess an abelian normal subgroup whose index is bounded by a function of \(n\) alone. In previous papers, the author obtained optimal bounds; in particular, a generic bound \((n+1)!\) was obtained when \(n\geq 71\), achieved by the symmetric group \(S_{n+1}\). It is now a natural question to ask what the corresponding bounds are for finite subgroups of other classical groups. In this paper, analogous bounds are obtained for the finite subgroups of the complex symplectic and orthogonal groups. In the case of \(\mathrm{Sp}(2n,\mathbb C)\) the optimal bound is \((60)^n\cdot n!\), achieved by the wreath product \(\mathrm{SL}(2n,\mathbb C)\mathrm{\,wr\,}S_n\) acting naturally on the direct sum of \(n\) 2-dimensional spaces; for the orthogonal groups \(\mathrm O(n,\mathbb C)\), the generic linear group bound of \((n+1)! \) is achieved as soon as \(n\geq 25\).