On the probability of generating finite groups with a unique minimal normal subgroup. (Q701232)

For any finite group \(G\), let \(d(G)\) be the smallest cardinality of a generating set of \(G\) and \(\varphi_G(d)\) be the number of ordered \(d\)-tuples of elements of \(G\) that generate \(G\). The number \(P_G(d)=\varphi_G(d)/|G|^d\) gives the probability that \(d\) randomly chosen elements of \(G\) generate \(G\). Let \(N\) be a normal subgroup of \(G\) and, for \(d\geq d(G/N)\), denote by \(P_{G,N}(d)\) the number \(P_G(d)/P_{G/N}(d)\) which gives the probability that a \(d\)-tuple generating \(G\) modulo \(N\) generates \(G\) itself. The authors prove that if \(G\) is a finite group with unique minimal normal subgroup \(N\) and \(d\geq d(G)\) then \(\lim_{|N|\to\infty}P_{G,N}(d)=1\). In combination with a result of \textit{A. Lucchini} and \textit{F. Menegazzo} [Rend. Semin. Mat. Univ. Padova 98, 173-191 (1997; Zbl 0895.20027)] this gives the existence of an absolute constant \(\gamma\) such that if \(G\) is a noncyclic finite group with unique minimal normal subgroup \(N\) and \(d\geq\max\{2,d(G/N)\}\) then \(\varphi_G(d)/\varphi_{G/N}(d)\geq\gamma|N|^d\).