On absolutely simple locally finite groups (Q1107624)

The starting point of the paper is a result of \textit{O. H. Kegel} [Math. Z. 95, 169-195 (1967; Zbl 0147.270)], which the author extends to give new criteria for locally finite, countably infinite, simple or absolutely simple groups. The results (Theorems 1 and 2) are too technical for reproduction here; suffice it to say that they show up the subtle difference between countably infinite locally finite simple groups and absolutely simple groups. A further sufficient condition is given for a locally finite countably infinite simple group to be absolutely simple (Theorem 3); as a consequence of this, and a natural extension to groups of higher order, all known locally finite simple groups are absolutely simple.