A new characterization of \(\text{PSU}(p,q)\). (Q2387180)

Let \(G\) be a finite group and \(\pi(G)\) the set of prime divisors of the order \(|G|\). The prime graph \(\Gamma(G)\) has \(\pi(G)\) as the set of vertices and two primes \(p\) and \(q\) are connected iff \(G\) has an element of order \(pq\). Let \(\pi_1,\dots,\pi_t\) be the connected components of the graph. Then \(|G|=m_1\cdots m_t\) with coprime numbers \(m_i\) where the prime divisors of \(m_i\) are the elements of \(\pi_i\). The set \(\text{OC}(G)=\{m_1,\dots ,m_t\}\) is called the set of order components of \(G\). The authors prove the following result: Theorem. Let \(G\) be a finite group, \(M=\text{PSU}(p,q)\), \(p\) a prime, \(q\) a prime power. Then \(G\simeq M\) iff \(\text{OC}(G)=\text{OC}(M)\). This result generalizes previous work of \textit{A. Iranmanesh, B. Khosravi} and \textit{S. H. Alavi} [Southeast Asian Bull. Math. 26, No. 1, 33-44 (2002; Zbl 1019.20012), Int J. Appl. Math. 15, No. 4, 329-340 (2004; Zbl 1066.20017)].