Groups having minimal covering number \(2\) of the diagonal type (Q6606931)

Let \(G\) be a finite group. A normal \(k\)-covering of \(G\) is a family of \(k\) proper subgroups \(H_{1}, \ldots, H_{k} <G\) such that\N\[\NG=\bigcup_{i=1}^{k}\bigcup_{g \in G} H_{i}^{g}.\N\]\NThe normal covering number \(\gamma(G)\) of \(G\) is the minimal \(k \in \mathbb{N}\) such that \(G\) admits a normal \(k\)-covering. It is straightforward that \(\gamma(G) \geq 2\) (even though infinite groups \(\Gamma\) were constructed with \(\gamma(\Gamma)=1\)). The groups \(G\) in which \(\gamma(G)=2\) have often been the subject of study (see the monograph by \textit{D. Bubboloni} et al. [Normal \(2\)-coverings of the finite simple groups and their generalizations. Cham: Springer (2024; Zbl 1548.20003)]. For inductive purposes, it is interesting to classify basic groups, that is groups \(G\) with \(\gamma(G)=2\) and such that \(\gamma(G/N)>2\), for every \(1 \not =N \trianglelefteq G\). Basic groups are explored in [\textit{M. Garonzi} and \textit{A. Lucchini}, J. Algebra 422, 148--165 (2015; Zbl 1310.20031)], revealing that such groups manifest as either almost simple, affine, product action or diagonal (using the O'Nan-Scott classification of primitive groups).\N\NThe authors present an accurate classification of finite diagonal groups that are basic (Theorem 1.2).