Complements of the socle in monolithic groups. (Q2469772)

Suppose that a finite group \(H\) is monolithic; that is, \(H\) has a unique minimal normal subgroup, say \(N=\text{soc}(H)\). It was proved by \textit{M. Aschbacher} and \textit{R. Guralnick} [J. Algebra 90, 446-460 (1984; Zbl 0554.20017)] that if \(N\) is Abelian then the number of conjugacy classes of complements of \(N\) in \(H\) is strictly less than \(|N|\). The object of the present paper is to show that the conclusion of the Aschbacher-Guralnick theorem also holds when \(N\) is nonabelian. In an earlier paper [Rend. Semin. Mat. Univ. Padova 112, 141-163 (2004; Zbl 1106.20014)] the authors dealt with the case where \(N\) is simple, so here they consider the case where \(N\) is nonabelian and not simple. They begin with the fact that if \(N=S_1\times\cdots\times S_k\), where the \(S_i\) are isomorphic nonabelian simple groups with \(k>1\), and \(K=S_2\times\cdots\times S_k\), then there is a bijection between the conjugacy classes of complements of \(N\) in \(H\) and the conjugacy classes of complements of \(S:=N/K\) in \(X:=N_H(K)/K\) [see \textit{F. Gross, L. G. Kovács}, J. Algebra 90, 133-168 (1984; Zbl 0594.20018]. The simple normal subgroup \(S\) is not necessarily the socle of \(X\), but \(X/S\) can be embedded in \(\text{Out}(S)\times(\text{Out}(S)\wr\text{Sym}(k-1))\) and the proof of the theorem proceeds case by case using the classification of finite simple groups.