An upper bound on the Chebotarev invariant of a finite group (Q2357014)

Let \(G\) be a finite group. Its subset \(\{g_1,g_2,\dots, g_d\}\) `invariably generates' \(G\) if \(\{x^{-1}_j-g_jx_j: 1\leq j\leq d\}\) generates \(G\) for every choice of the \(x_j\) in \(G\). Then, the Chebotarev invariant \(C(G)\) of \(G\) is the expected value of the random variable \(n\) that is minimal subject to the requirement that \(n\) randomly chosen elements of \(G\) invariably generate \(G\). Improving on results of the first author, the authors prove the following. For each \(\varepsilon>0\) there is a constant \(c(\varepsilon)\) such that for any finite group \(G\) \[ C(G)\leq c(\varepsilon)+ (1+ \varepsilon)\sqrt{|G|}. \] Moreover, if \(G\) is soluble then \(C(G)\leq(5/3)\sqrt{|G|}\) and then the maximum value for \(C(G)/\sqrt{|G|}\) is attained only for the Klein 4-group.