On the number of simple \(K_4\) groups (Q826575)

Assume that \(a,b\) are natural numbers and \(p,q\) are prime numbers such that \(>3\). If \(1<c \in \mathbb{N}\) then in the paper under review it is shown that the Diophantine equation \(p^2-1=2^a 3^b q^c\) has only two solutions, namely, \((p, q, a, b, c)=(97, 7, 6, 1, 12)\) and \((p, q, a, b, c)=(577, 17, 7, 2, 2)\). Note that this Diophantine equation involves simple \(K_4\)-groups. The proof is based on Zsigmondy's theorem and a series of lemmas exist in the literature. Since the Diophantine equation in the paper under review is closely related with the infinitude of simple \(K_4\)-groups, the paper concludes with a careful analysis through Dickson's conjecture. As a conclusion, they show that it is not easy to prove the infinitude of simple \(K_4\)-groups.