Large subgroups of the simple group \(F_ 2\) (Q1066999)

Let G be a finite group and A a simple subgroup of G. Then A is called wide in G if A is a maximal element in the set \(\{\) \(X|\) X is a proper simple subgroup of G, and \(n(G)=n(X)\}\). Here n(X) is the smallest degree of a permutation representation of X. Hypothesis. Wide subgroups of known simple groups are also known. \textit{V. D. Mazurov} and \textit{A. N. Fomin} [Mat. Zametki 34, 821-824 (1983; Zbl 0555.20010)] have proved this hypothesis to imply the classification of finite simple groups (''all simple groups are known''). Let \(F_ 2\) be the simple group of order \(2^{41}\cdot 3^{13}\cdot..\). (the so called Baby Monster. The purpose of the paper under review is the following Theorem. The group \(F_ 2\) does not contain wide subgroups. The group \(F_ 2\) contains a subgroup C of index 13,571,955,000 which is isomorphic to \(2.^ 2E_ 6(2).2\). Theorem 1. This subgroup C is of smallest possible index in \(F_ 2\), i.e. \(n(F_ 2)=13,571,955,000\). A large part of the calculations in the proof of Theorem 2 has been made by means of a computer.