A characterization of some finite simple groups by their character codegrees (Q6988409)

This paper proves that a finite group \(G\) sharing the set of character codegrees \(\mathrm{cod}(G)\) with a finite simple group \(H\) of the form \(\mathrm{PSL}_n(q)\) (\(n \ge 4\)) or an exceptional simple group of Lie type must be isomorphic to \(H\). The codegree of an irreducible character \(\chi\) is defined as \(\mathrm{cod}(\chi) = |G : \ker(\chi)| / \chi(1)\). This result extends previous work on the recognition of finite simple groups from invariants like character degrees or element orders.\N\NThe proof combines character-theoretic techniques, minimal counter-example arguments and group cohomology. A key step shows that any minimal normal subgroup \(N\) of \(G\) must be elementary abelian and admits an irreducible faithful \(H\)-module structure, leading to contradictions via bounds on module dimensions and Sylow subgroup orders. For quasisimple candidates \(G\) with \(G/Z(G) \cong H\), the author excludes all possibilities by checking that codegree divisibility fails for suitable faithful characters. The treatment includes precise estimates based on Landazuri-Seitz-Zalesskii (see [\textit{P. B. Kleidman} and \textit{M. W. Liebeck}, The subgroup structure of the finite classical groups. Cambridge etc.: Cambridge University Press (1990; Zbl 0697.20004), Table 5.2.A]) for exceptional groups.