Finite groups with a large automorphism orbit (Q1755568)

Let \(G\) be a finite group and let \(A=\mathrm{Aut}(G)\). A natural problem is to see to what extent the existence of a large \(A\)-orbit in \(G\) influences the structure of \(G\). The author defines the positive rational number \(\mathrm{maol}(G)\) to be the quotient of the largest size of an \(A\)-orbit in \(G\) and the order of \(G\) and he uses it to establish several quantitative results. The main results of this long and technical paper (which uses the CFSG) are rather impressive and they are stated in the main Theorem 1.1.2 as follows. A) If \(\mathrm{maol}(G)\) is larger than \(\frac{18}{19}\), then \(G\) is solvable. The above value is conceivably not the best one possible and the author is asking the question if \(\mathrm{maol}(G)\leq \frac{3}{2}\) for all nonsolvable \(G\). B) There exists a function \(f\) defined on \((0, 1]\) and taking positive values such that for every \(x\in (0, 1]\) and each finite \(G\) with \(\mathrm{maol}(G)\geq x\) the orders of the nonabelian composition factors of \(G\) are at most \(f(x)\). C) For every finite simple nonabelian group \(S\) there exists \(c(S)\in (0, 1]\) such that for each \(N>1\) there exists a finite group \(G\) with \(\mathrm{maol}(G)\geq c(S)\) and such that \(S\) occurs as a composition factor of \(G\) with multiplicity at least \(N\).