Linear groups over \(\text{GF}(2^k)\) generated by a conjugacy class of a fixed point free element of order 3 (Q5952413)

This paper is a contribution to the general program of studying triples \((G,\Phi,g)\), where \(G\) is a finite group that is generated by the conjugacy class of an element \(g\in G\), \(\Phi\) a faithful representation of \(G\), and the degree of the minimal polynomial of \(\Phi(g)\) is less than the order of \(g\) in \(G/Z(G)\) (the so-called `minimal polynomial problem'). Using the classification of finite simple groups, the authors determine a complete list of the triples \((G,\Phi,g)\) in question in the case where \(\Phi\) is an absolutely irreducible representation of \(G\) in characteristic \(2\) and \(g\) is an element of order \(3\) that acts fixed point freely. \textit{R. L. Wilson} studied this problem for \(G\) a quasi-simple group of Lie type [Commun. Algebra 3, 319-364 (1975; Zbl 0306.20049)], and \textit{G. Mullineux} considered the case \(G\) is an alternating group [Q. J. Math., Oxf. II. Ser. 29, 199-212 (1978; Zbl 0377.20010)]. In addition to the representations found by Wilson and Mullineux, the list also includes Weil representations of \(\text{PSp}_{2m}(3)\times\mathbb{Z}_3\) of degree \((3^m-1)/2\), representations of degree \(3^m\) of \(3^{1+2m}_+:\text{Sp}_{2m}(3)\), some representations of groups of type \(A_l(2^k)\) or \(^2A_l(2^k)\), and a few more sporadic examples. Remark: The sentence ``\(E(G)\) is of type \(E_{A_l}\) with \(E\in\{1,2\}\) and \(Eq\equiv 1\pmod 3\)'' in assertion (1) of Theorem 0.1 should be read as ``\(E(G)\) is of type \(^\varepsilon A_l\) with \(\varepsilon\in\{1,2\}\) and \(\varepsilon q\equiv 1\pmod 3\)''.