Almost simple groups with long orbits in absolutely irreducible action. (Q2498863)

Let \(G\) be a finite group with quasi-simple generalized Fitting subgroup \(F^*(G)\), and let \(V\) be an absolutely irreducible faithful \(\mathbb{F}_qG\)-module of dimension \(d\) which is not defined over a proper subfield of \(\mathbb{F}_q\). Suppose that \(G\) has an orbit \(B\) of length \(|B|\geq (q^{d-1}-1)/(q-1)\) on \(\mathbb{P}(V)\). The author shows that either \(G\) is a group of Lie type in characteristic \(p\mid q\), or \((G,d,q)\) belongs to an explicit finite list of examples. Moreover, he extracts those examples from his list where \(G\) has at most \(q-1\) orbits on \(\mathbb{P}(V)\). Let \(H\) be a finite group and \(p\) a prime divisor of \(|H|\). \textit{L. Héthelyi} and the reviewer have asked whether \(H\) has at least \(2\sqrt{p-1}\) conjugacy classes [Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 32, No. 6, 668-672 (2000; Zbl 1024.20016)]. Moreover, they have proved this when \(H\) is solvable. The author shows that a minimal counterexample \(H\) to this question is a semidirect product of a \(p'\)-group \(G\) and an irreducible \(\mathbb{F}_pG\)-module \(V\). Using his results on orbits he proves that in this situation \(F^*(G)\) cannot be simple.