Hurwitz Groups of Large Rank (Q4487522)

Hurwitz groups are non-trivial quotients of triangle groups \(\triangle(2,3,7)=\langle x,y:x^2=y^3=(xy)^7=1\rangle\). \textit{A. Hurwitz} [Math. Ann. 41, 403-442 (1892; JFM 24.0380.02)] proved that automorphisms of an algebraic curve of genus \(g\) always have order \(84(g-1)\) and that a finite group of order \(84(g-1)\) can act faithfully on a curve of genus \(g\) if and only if it is an image of \(\triangle(2,3,7)\). Various families of groups have been thoroughly investigated as candidates for Hurwitz groups. For example, \textit{A. M. Macbeath} [Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 12, 14-32 (1969; Zbl 0192.35703)] has classified the Hurwitz groups of type \(\text{PSL}(2,q)\). \textit{J. Cohen} [Glasg. Math. J. 22, 1-7 (1981; Zbl 0452.20049)] proved that no group \(\text{PSL}(3,q)\) is a Hurwitz group except \(\text{PSL}(3,2)\) which is isomorphic to \(\text{PSL}(2,7)\), \textit{Q. Mushtaq} [Commun. Algebra 18, No. 11, 3857-3888 (1990; Zbl 0721.20033)] has parametrized actions of the triangle group \(\triangle(2,3,7)\) on the projective lines over finite fields \(F_q\) where \(q\) is a power of a prime. In the paper under review, the authors consider groups of large rank and prove that \(\text{SL}(n,q)\) is a Hurwitz group for all \(n\geq 287\) and all prime powers \(q\). Reviewer's comment: A number of important and relevant papers on Hurwitz groups are missing from the list of references.