On simple groups that admit a string \(C\)-group representation (Q6880185)

Let \(G\) be a non-abelian finite simple group. A string \(\mathcal{C}\)-group representation of rank \(n\) is a generating sequence of involutions \((\varphi_1,\dots,\varphi_n)\) such that \(\varphi_i\varphi_j=\varphi_j\varphi_i\) for \(|i-j|\ge 2\) and the intersection property holds for the corresponding generated subgroups.\N\NThe paper under review proves the following classification: \(G\) admits at least one string \(\mathcal{C}\)-group representation (equivalently, \(G\) is the automorphism group of some abstract regular polytope) if and only if \(G\) is not isomorphic to \(\mathrm{PSL}(3,q)\), \(\mathrm{PSU}(3,q)\), \(\mathrm{PSL}(4,2^n)\), \(\mathrm{PSU}(4,2^n)\), \(\mathrm{PSU}(4,3)\), \(\mathrm{PSU}(5,2)\), \(\mathrm{A}_6\), \(\mathrm{A}_7\), \(\mathrm{M}_{11}\), \(\mathrm{M}_{22}\), \(\mathrm{M}_{23}\) or \(\mathrm{McL}\). For the projective groups in dimension \(3\), pseudo-involutions and a refinement of the approach by \textit{P. A. Brooksbank} and \textit{D. A. Vicinsky} [Discrete Comput. Geom. 44, No. 3, 654--659 (2010; Zbl 1206.52012)], force rank \(\le 4\) and yield an impossible embedding into a suitable orthogonal similitude group. The cases \(\mathrm{PSL}(4,2^n)\) and \(\mathrm{PSU}(4,2^n)\) are reduced via Klein correspondences to orthogonal groups of dimension \(6\) and the remaining finite exceptions are excluded by Magma computations.