The cohomology of the Lyons group and double covers of alternating groups (Q1273390)

It is well known that there are precisely eight sporadic simple groups of 2-rank 4: \(M_{22}\), \(M_{23}\), \(J_2\), \(J_3\), \(McL\), \(Ly\), \(HS\), and \(Co_3\). The mod 2 cohomology rings were computed for \(M_{22}\) and \(McL\) by \textit{A. Adem} and \textit{R. J. Milgram} [in Topology 34, No. 2, 389-410 (1995; Zbl 0832.20075) and Math. Z. 224, No. 4, 495-517 (1997; Zbl 0878.20036), respectively], for \(M_{23}\) by \textit{R. J. Milgram} [Preprint, Stanford Univ. (1993)], for \(J_2\) and \(J_3\) by \textit{J. Carlson, J. Maginnis} and \textit{R. J. Milgram} [Preprint (1996)]. One of the main objectives of this paper is to determine the mod 2 cohomology ring for the Lyons group \(Ly\). In the course of obtaining this result, the authors determine the cohomology of the following groups in succession \[ 2A_8\hookrightarrow 2S_8\hookrightarrow 2A_{10}\hookrightarrow 2A_{11}. \] In addition, the following facts are also used: \(2A_{11}\) is a maximal, odd index subgroup of \(Ly\) and the Sylow 2-subgroups of the groups \(2A_8\), \(M_{22}\), \(M_{23}\), and \(McL\) are isomorphic. The cohomology of the double covers of the alternating groups \(2A_n\) is also interesting in other contexts. The mod 2 cohomology of \(2A_n\) for \(n\leq 7\) can be easily computed. This simple behaviour breaks down for \(n=8\) and in fact the calculation of \(H^{\ast}(2A_8,F_2)\) has been an open problem for some time.