On simple \(K_4\)-groups (Q5945576)

A finite simple group \(G\) is called simple \(K_n\)-group if the order of \(G\) has exactly \(n\) distinct prime factors. It is well known that the number of simple \(K_3\)-groups is eight [\textit{M. Herzog}, J. Algebra 10, 383-388 (1968; Zbl 0167.29101)]. Using the classification of the simple groups, the reviewer classified the simple \(K_4\)-groups [On simple \(K_4\)-groups, Chin. Sci. Bull. 36, 1281-1283 (1991)]. A simple \(K_4\)-group is one of \(L_2(q)\) or 31 other simple groups, where \(q\) is a prime power satisfying \(q(q^2-1)=\gcd(2,q-1)2^a3^bp^cr^d\) with \(p>3\) and \(r>3\) distinct primes. For such \(q\), the reviewer reduced the above equation to four Diophantine equations consisting of some powers of unknown primes. In this paper the authors investigate these Diophantine equations and solve three of them in the case when the exponents are greater than 1. As a result the problem of simple \(K_4\)-groups is further reduced to eight Diophantine equations, among which are, for example, \(2^m-1=p\), \(2^m+1=3r\) where \(p,r\) are primes. Since these equations are involved in properties of primes, it seems difficult to determine all of their solutions. Also the following problem is still open: Is the number of simple \(K_4\)-groups finite or infinite?