A 3-local characterization of \(Co_3\). (Q866511)

The authors give a 3-local characterization of the finite simple sporadic group \(Co_3\). Namely, they prove that if \(G\) is a finite group, \(S\) a 3-Sylow subgroup of \(G\) and \(J\) is a subgroup of \(S\) such that, in the Atlas notation, \(N_G(Z(S))=3_+^{1+4}.2.2.L_2(9).2\) and \(N_G(J)=3^5:(2\times M_{11})\) then \(G\simeq Co_3\).