On minimal finite quotients of mapping class groups (Q691286)

Let \(\mathcal{M}_g\) denote the mapping class group of a closed surface of genus \(g\). In the article under review, the author shows that when \(g=3,4\), the group \(PSp_{2g}(\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z})\) is the minimal finite quotient of \(\mathcal{M}_g\). In higher genus, the author shows that if \(G\) is a finite simple quotient of \(\mathcal{M}_g\) then \(G\) is either a projective symplectic group over a finite field or it contains an element of order \(4g+2\). The author exploits bounds on the sizes of groups of automorphisms of Riemann surfaces, together with some facts about generating finite simple groups, in order to achieve a proof of the results.