A geometry for groups of \(J_3\)-type. (Q2373348)

In 1968 Janko showed evidence for two new sporadic simple groups \(J_3\) and \(J_2\). Both have an involution \(i\) such that the centralizer is a split extension of an extraspecial group of order 32 by \(A_5\) acting faithfully on the extraspecial group. A group \(G\) is of \(J_3\)-type if all involutions in \(G\) have centralizers of the type above. Existence and uniqueness of groups of \(J_3\)-type was shown by \textit{G. Higman} and \textit{J. McKay} [Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 1, 89-94 (1969; Zbl 0175.30103)]. This proof is based on the existence of a so-called \(J_3\)-amalgam, which consists of the three groups \(L_2(16):2\), \(2^4:\text{GL}_2(4)\) and \(3\cdot\text{PGL}_2(9)\), with Borel group \(B=3\times D_{10}\). The main result in this paper is to show that \(J_3\) is a completion of a \(J_3\)-amalgam. In contrast to Janko's proof the author avoids use of character theory.