Another characterization of \(L_n(2)\) (Q1239262)

In the article the following result is proved: Theorem. Let \(z\) be an involution in the finite fusion simple group \(G\). Set \(H=C_G(z)\) and assume that \(F^*(H)=E\) is extraspecial of width \(n\). Suppose \(E\) contains two abelian groups \(A\) and \(B\) with \(E=AB\) and \(A\trianglelefteq H\). Then one of the following is true: (i) \(z^G\cap E=\{z\}\). (ii) \(H/E\cong L_n\) (2) and \(G\cong L_{n+2}(2)\), \(A_6\), \(A_9\), \(M_{24}\), \(He\) or \(A\leq G\) and \(G/A\cong L_{n+1}(2)\). We remark that groups satisfying (i) are classified by a result of Aschbacher and Smith.