OD-characterization of certain four dimensional linear groups with related results concerning degree patterns. (Q2258122)

Let \(G\) be a finite group and \(\pi(|G|)=\{p_1,\ldots,p_k\}\). For \(p\in\pi(|G|)\), let \(\deg(p)\) be the degree (valency) of the vertex \(p\) in the prime graph of \(G\). Define \(D(G)=(\deg(p_1),\ldots,\deg(p_k))\), where \(p_1<\cdots<p_k\), which is called the degree pattern of \(G\), and \(\vartheta(G)=\sum_{i=1}^k\deg(p_i)\). A finite group \(H\) is called OD-characterizable if \(G\cong H\) for every finite group \(G\) such that \(|G|=|H|\) and \(D(G)=D(H)\). The purpose of this article is threefold. First, it finds sharp upper and lower bounds on \(\vartheta(G)\) for any finite group \(G\). Second, it provides the degree of vertices 2 and the characteristic \(p\) of the base field of any finite simple group of Lie type in their prime graphs. Third, it proves that the projective special linear groups \(L_4(q)\), where \(19\leq q<40\), are OD-characterizable. Note that, for \(q\leq 17\), the same result was obtained by the authors [Int. J. Algebra Comput. 22, No. 6, 1250051 (2012; Zbl 1266.20037)] and the authors and \textit{S. Rahbariyan} [Algebra Colloq. 19, No. 3, 473-482 (2012; Zbl 1250.20010)].