On semi-rational finite simple groups (Q2408001)

Let \(G\) be a finite group. An element \(x\in G\) is called semi-rational if all generators of \(\langle x\rangle\) lie in the union of two conjugacy classes of \(G\). If all elements of \(G\) are semi-rational, then \(G\) is called a semi-rational group. A special case of semi-rational groups are rational groups in which the generators of \(\langle x\rangle\), for all \(x\in G\), are conjugate in \(G\). \textit{D. Chillag} and \textit{S. Dolfi} [J. Group Theory 13, No. 4, 535--548 (2010; Zbl 1203.20014)] introduced the notion of semi-rational group and studied solvable semi-rational groups. Semi-rational solvable Frobenius groups have been studied by the authors jointly with \textit{M. R. Darafsheh} in [J. Algebra Appl. 15, No. 2, Article ID 1650033, 8 p. (2016; Zbl 1336.20035)]. In the given paper, the authors determine all finite simple semi-rational groups. This result generalizes the description of finite simple rational groups obtained by \textit{W. Feit} and \textit{G. M. Seitz} [Ill. J. Math. 33, No. 1, 103--131 (1989; Zbl 0701.20005)] and implies the following Corollary: If \(G\) is a finite simple non-alternating semi-rational group then \(|\pi(G)|\leq 15\) and, in particular, \(|\pi(G)|\leq 8\) for the group \(G\) of Lie type. This gives an answer to Problem 2 in the above mentioned paper of Chillag and Dolfi [loc. cit.] for semi-rational finite simple groups.