Simple groups, probabilistic methods, and a conjecture of Kantor and Lubotzky (Q1923943)

The authors continue their study of the existence of pairs of generators for finite simple groups of Lie type of orders 2 and \(m\) for specified \(m\) \{\((2,m)\)-generation\} or for arbitrary \(m\) \{\((2,\ast)\)-generation\} [Geom. Dedicata 56, No. 1, 103-113 (1995; Zbl 0836.20068); Ann. Math., II. Ser. 144, No. 1, 77-125 (1996; Zbl 0865.20020)]. In particular they confirm the conjecture of \textit{W. M. Kantor} and \textit{A. Lubotzky} [Geom. Dedicata 36, No. 1, 67-87 (1990; Zbl 0718.20011)] that a randomly chosen involution and a randomly chosen additional element of a finite simple (nonabelian) group \(G\) generate \(G\) with probability \(\to 1\) as \(|G|\to\infty\). A similar result is proved for a randomly chosen element of order 3 and a random further element for finite simple groups which are not Suzuki groups. The authors have sharp estimates for the probability \(P(G)\) of generating a finite simple group \(G\) of exceptional Lie type by two randomly chosen elements; \(P(G)\) is strongly linked with the minimal index of a proper subgroup of \(G\). All finite simple groups are \((2,\ast)\)-generated [\textit{G. Malle, J. Saxl} and \textit{T. Weigel}, Geom. Dedicata 49, No. 1, 85-116 (1994; Zbl 0832.20029)], most of them even \((2,3)\)-generated. The groups \(G=\text{PSp}_4(2^k)\), \(\text{PSp}_4(3^k)\), \(^2B_2(q)\) though not \((2,3)\)-generated are \((2,5)\)-generated with probability \(\to 1\) as \(|G|\to\infty\). There is a constant \(c\) such that every finite simple group \(G\) has order \(\leq c\) or is \((2,3)\)- or \((2,5)\)-generated or is an exceptional group of Lie type \(F_4\), \(E_6\), \(^2E_6\), \(E_7\), or \(E_8\). There are constants \(c_2\), \(c_3\), \(c_5\), \(C_r\) for \(r\geq 1\) such that an exceptional simple group \(G\) of one of these types has at most \(c_2|G|^{7/13}\) involutions, at most \(c_3|G|^{9/13}\) elements of order 3, at most \(c_5|G|^{25/31}\) elements of order 5 and at most \(C_r|G|^{247/248}\) elements of order \(\leq r\).