No label defined (Q3840433)

If \(G\) is a finite group with two generators \(x_1,x_2\) and an automorphism \(\theta\) such that \(x_1\theta=x_2\) and \(\theta^2=1\), then \(G\) has a symmetric presentation: \(P=\{x_1,x_2: w_i(x_1,x_2)=w_i(x_2,x_1)=1\), \(i=1,2,\dots,m\}\). Next, for any group \(G\) with symmetric presentation \(P\) and any \(n\geq 2\), let \(P(n)=\{x_1,x_2,\dots,x_n: w_i(x_j,x_k)=1\), \(i=1,2,\dots,m\), \(1\leq j\neq k\leq n\}\). In the paper under review, the authors show that orthogonal groups arise as \(\langle P(n)\rangle\) for other symmetric presentations \(P\). Moreover, the nature of \(\langle P(n)\rangle\) varies with increasing \(n\) in very diverse ways depending not only on the group \(\langle P\rangle\) but also on the presentation \(P\). The authors examine the groups \(\langle P(3)\rangle\) where \(P(2)\) is one of a family of presentations for \(L_2(P)\). They examine 4-generator versions of these groups and show that they can be both finite and infinite groups. A series of symmetric presentations can collapse to the trivial group as \(n\) increases. Two different cases, each starting from a symmetric presentation of \(L_2(3)\), are also investigated. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0892.00032].