Generic \(2\)-coverings of finite groups of Lie type. (Q2504992)

Summary: In [J. Algebra 59, 202-221 (1979; Zbl 0409.20033)] it was shown by \textit{R. H. Dye} that in a symplectic group \(G:=\text{Sp}_{2l}(2^f)=\text{Iso}(V,\langle\cdot,\cdot\rangle)\) defined over a finite field of characteristic 2 every element in \(G\) stabilizes a quadratic form of maximal or non-maximal Witt index inducing the bilinear form \(\langle\cdot,\cdot\rangle\). Thus \(G\) is the union of the two \(G\)-conjugacy classes of subgroups isomorphic to \(O^+_{2l}(2^f)\) and \(O^-_{2l}(2^f)\) embedded naturally. In this paper we classify all finite groups of Lie type \((G,F)\) with this generic 2-covering property (Theorem A). In particular, we show that there exists also an interesting example in characteristic 3, i.e., in the finite group of Lie type \(G:=F_4(3^f)\) every element in \(G\) is conjugate to an element of the subgroup \(B_4(3^f)\leq F_4(3^f)\) or of the subgroup \(3.{^3D_4(3^f)}\leq F_4(3^f)\).