Fixed point ratios in actions of finite classical groups. IV. (Q2456201)

This is the final instalment in a series of four papers on fixed point ratios for actions of classical groups [see \textit{T. C. Burness}, part I, J. Algebra 309, No. 1, 69-79 (2007; Zbl 1128.20003), for more details on the set-up]. The main theorem of these papers is the following: if \(G\) is a finite almost simple classical group and \(\Omega\) is a faithful transitive non-subspace \(G\)-set, then either \(\text{fpr}(x)\lesssim|x^G|^{-\frac 12}\) for all \(x\in G\) of prime order, or the pair \((G,\Omega)\) is one of a small number of known exceptions. The proof of this result first reduces to primitive actions and then considers the different possibilities for the stabiliser \(G_\omega\) of a point \(\omega\in\Omega\); in the paper under review the proof of the result is completed by considering the cases that \(G_\omega\) is a subgroup from Aschbacher's family \(\mathcal S\) [see \textit{M. Aschbacher}, Invent. Math. 76, 469-514 (1984; Zbl 0537.20023)], or is a subgroup in a small additional collection \(\mathcal N\). The groups in \(\mathcal N\) are introduced in the second paper of the series [\textit{T. C. Burness}, part II, J. Algebra 309, No. 1, 80-138 (2007; Zbl 1128.20004)] and arise because of the existence of certain outer automorphisms, including the triality automorphisms for orthogonal groups in dimension 8.