A representation for the Lyons group in \(\text{GL}_{2480}(4)\), and a new uniqueness proof (Q1383569)

The author constructs the smallest faithful representation for Lyons' simple group \(Ly\) in characteristic 2, a representation of dimension \(2480\) over \(\text{GF}(4)\). This is done by using the well-known amalgamation method with the subgroups \(G_2(5)\) and \(5^3.L_3(5)\) and their intersection \(5^{2+1+2} : GL_2(5)\). During these calculations, the author also constructs the smallest representation of \(G_2(5)\) in characteristic 2 of dimension \(124\). The proof that the matrices do in fact represent \(Ly\) is done by checking the original presentation of C. Sims, where the details are omitted, since the same proof, with another representation of \(Ly\), has been done before by \textit{C. Jansen, R. A. Wilson} [Commun. Algebra 24, No. 3, 873-879 (1996; Zbl 0845.20010)]. Moreover, the paper contains a uniqueness proof for \(Ly\) that follows more or less directly from the construction, and the fact that the constructed representation stays irreducible when restricted to \(G_2(5)\).