No label defined (Q4939302)

Let \(n\geq 2\) and let \(\pi_p\colon\text{SL}_n(\mathbb{Z})\to\text{SL}_n(p)\) be the natural projection. The author proves that if \(A\) is a subset of \(\text{SL}_n(\mathbb{Z})\) such that for some prime \(p\), \(\pi_p(A)\) generates \(\text{SL}_n(p)\) (\(p\not=2,3\) when \(n=2\), and \(p\not=2\) when \(n=3,4\)), then for almost all primes \(q\), \(\pi_q(A)\) generates \(\text{SL}_n(q)\). This result is really somewhat surprising. Moreover, the author extends this result to other algebraic groups. Let \(G\) be a connected, simply connected, absolutely simple algebraic subgroup of \(\text{GL}_n\) defined over \(\mathbb{Z}\). For a prime \(\ell\), let \(G_\ell\) be the algebraic subgroup of \(\text{GL}_n(\widetilde\mathbb{F}_\ell)\) defined over \(\mathbb{F}_\ell\) by the same equations defining \(G\) taken mod \(\ell\), and \(G_\ell(\mathbb{F}_\ell)\) the group of \(\mathbb{F}_\ell\)-rational points of \(G_\ell\). Then there exists a finite set \(L(G)\) of primes such that if \(p\notin L(G)\) and \(A\) is a subset of \(G(\mathbb{Z})\) which generates \(G_p(\mathbb{F}_p)\), then for almost all primes \(q\), \(A\) generates \(G_q(\mathbb{F}_q)\). For the entire collection see [Zbl 0928.00073].