Symmetric generation of the Higman-Sims group (Q1346102)

The sporadic simple group \(HS\) was constructed in 1968 by D. Higman and Ch. Sims mimicking the construction of \(J_ 2\) due to M. Hall. The group was given as a rank three permutation group with subdegrees 1, 22, 77 and point stabilizer \(M_{22}\). In fact \(\text{Aut} (HS)\) with point stabilizer \(\text{Aut} (M_{22})\) was constructed. This construction is by far the simplest construction of a sporadic group besides the Mathieu groups. It can be given in a group theory course within a one hour lecture. In the paper under review the author gives another presentation of \(HS : 2\) depending on the embedding of \(U_ 3 (5) : 2\). The latter group acts on the Hoffman-Singleton graph \(\Gamma\). Let \(A\) be the free product of 50 involutions indexed by the vertices of \(\Gamma\) and \(H\) be the semidirect product of \(A\) by \(U_ 3(5) \cdot 2\), where \(U_ 3 (5) \cdot 2\) acts on the generating set of involutions of \(A\) as it acts on the vertices of \(\Gamma\), adding a certain set of relations which are defined on the pentagons of \(\Gamma\). Here certain involutions of \(U_ 3(5) \cdot 2\) are identified with certain elements of \(A\). Then by double coset enumeration the author shows that this defines the group \(HS : 2\). It is remarkable that using this presentation one is able to read off the maximal subgroups of \(HS\) as given by \textit{S. Magliveras} [Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 77, 535-539 (1971; Zbl 0226.20012)].