A new characterization of some alternating and symmetric groups. (Q1415137)

Let \(G\) be a finite group and \(p\) be a prime. \(G\) is called a finite simple \(C_{pp}\)-group if \(G\) is simple and the centralizers of its elements of order \(p\) in \(G\) are \(p\)-groups. The finite simple \(C_{pp}\) (\(p=2^a3^b+1\), \(a\geq 0\), \(b\geq 0\)) groups were classified by \textit{Z.-M. Chen} and \textit{W.-J. Shi} [On \(C_{pp}\) simple groups (Chinese), J. Southwest China Norm. Univ., Nat. Sci. 18, No. 3, 249-256 (1993)]. The set of order components of \(G\) was defined by \textit{G.-Y. Chen} [J. Algebra 185, No. 1, 184-193 (1996; Zbl 0861.20018)]. Using the above results the authors prove that the alternating groups \(A_n\) (\(n=p,p+1\) or \(p+2\)) and symmetric groups \(S_n\) (\(n=p,p+1\)), where \(p=2^a3^b+1\), \(a\geq 1\), \(b\geq 0\) and \(p\geq 7\), are all uniquely determined by their order components.