Finite Simple Groups
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers Why do we care about simple groups? What do we know about simple groups? Finite Simple Groups What questions are there about groups in light of the classifcation? The extension Daniel Rogers problem Maximal subgroups October 28 2014 Contents Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers Why do we care about simple groups? 1 Why do we care about simple groups? What do we know about simple groups? What questions 2 are there about What do we know about simple groups? groups in light of the classifcation? The extension problem Maximal 3 What questions are there about groups in light of the subgroups classifcation? The extension problem Maximal subgroups Important note! Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers Why do we care about simple groups? What do we know about simple groups? What questions are there about All groups in this talk will be finite. groups in light of the classifcation? The extension problem Maximal subgroups Prime Numbers Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers Why do we care about simple groups? What do we know about simple groups? Prime numbers are the building blocks of number theory - every What questions integer can be expressed uniquely as a product of primes. As such, a are there about groups in light of lot of effort goes in to understanding prime numbers. the classifcation? The extension Simple groups are the equivalent notion in group theory - although, problem Maximal as we will see later, there are some crucial differences. subgroups Theorem The only too simple groups are cyclic groups of prime order (and the trivial group). This definition is, as the name suggests, too simple. First attempt Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers Why do we care about simple groups? What do we Definition know about simple groups? A group G is too simple if the only subgroups of G are G and 1. What questions are there about groups in light of the classifcation? The extension problem Maximal subgroups This definition is, as the name suggests, too simple. First attempt Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers Why do we care about simple groups? What do we Definition know about simple groups? A group G is too simple if the only subgroups of G are G and 1. What questions are there about groups in light of the classifcation? Theorem The extension problem The only too simple groups are cyclic groups of prime order (and the Maximal subgroups trivial group). First attempt Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers Why do we care about simple groups? What do we Definition know about simple groups? A group G is too simple if the only subgroups of G are G and 1. What questions are there about groups in light of the classifcation? Theorem The extension problem The only too simple groups are cyclic groups of prime order (and the Maximal subgroups trivial group). This definition is, as the name suggests, too simple. Key definitions Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers Why do we care Definition about simple groups? A normal subgroup N of a group G is a subgroup of G which is What do we know about closed under conjugation by elements of G; in other words, simple groups? 8 n 2 N; g 2 G, g −1ng 2 N. What questions are there about groups in light of the classifcation? Definition The extension problem Maximal A group G is simple if it has precisely two normal subgroup; namely subgroups G and 1. Example For p prime, the cyclic group of order p (denoted Cp) is simple. Jordan-H¨oldertheorem Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers Why do we care Definition about simple groups? A composition series for a finite group G is a chain of strict subgroups What do we know about simple groups? 1 = G0 < G1 < ::: < Gr = G What questions are there about groups in light of such that each Gi is a normal subgroup of Gi+1 and the factor group the classifcation? The extension Gi+1=Gi is simple. problem Maximal subgroups Definition The composition factors for a group is the set of groups fG1=G0; G2=G1; :::; Gr =Gr−1g Every (finite) group has a composition series. ±SL(2; 5), the group of all matrices with determinant ±1 (order 240). SL(2; 5), the group of all matrices with determinant 1 (order 120). Z, the group of all scalar matrices (order 4). 1 2 Z, the group consisting of I , the identity, and −I (order 2). 1, the trivial group (order 1). Then we have the following two composition series: 1 1 E 2 Z E Z E ±SL(2; 5) E G 1 1 E 2 Z E SL(2; 5) E ±SL(2; 5) E G. Jordan-H¨oldertheorem Finite Simple Groups Example (GL(2,5)) Daniel Rogers Let G = GL(2; 5), the set of invertible 2 × 2 matrices over the Why do we care about simple integers modulo 5 (this is a group of order 480). G has the following groups? What do we normal subgroups: know about simple groups? What questions are there about groups in light of the classifcation? The extension problem Maximal subgroups Then we have the following two composition series: 1 1 E 2 Z E Z E ±SL(2; 5) E G 1 1 E 2 Z E SL(2; 5) E ±SL(2; 5) E G. Jordan-H¨oldertheorem Finite Simple Groups Example (GL(2,5)) Daniel Rogers Let G = GL(2; 5), the set of invertible 2 × 2 matrices over the Why do we care about simple integers modulo 5 (this is a group of order 480). G has the following groups? What do we normal subgroups: know about simple groups? ±SL(2; 5), the group of all matrices with determinant ±1 (order What questions 240). are there about groups in light of the classifcation? SL(2; 5), the group of all matrices with determinant 1 (order The extension problem 120). Maximal subgroups Z, the group of all scalar matrices (order 4). 1 2 Z, the group consisting of I , the identity, and −I (order 2). 1, the trivial group (order 1). Jordan-H¨oldertheorem Finite Simple Groups Example (GL(2,5)) Daniel Rogers Let G = GL(2; 5), the set of invertible 2 × 2 matrices over the Why do we care about simple integers modulo 5 (this is a group of order 480). G has the following groups? What do we normal subgroups: know about simple groups? ±SL(2; 5), the group of all matrices with determinant ±1 (order What questions 240). are there about groups in light of the classifcation? SL(2; 5), the group of all matrices with determinant 1 (order The extension problem 120). Maximal subgroups Z, the group of all scalar matrices (order 4). 1 2 Z, the group consisting of I , the identity, and −I (order 2). 1, the trivial group (order 1). Then we have the following two composition series: 1 1 E 2 Z E Z E ±SL(2; 5) E G 1 1 E 2 Z E SL(2; 5) E ±SL(2; 5) E G. Jordan-H¨oldertheorem Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers Why do we care about simple groups? What do we know about Example (GL(2,5)) simple groups? What questions 1 are there about 1 E 2 Z E Z E ±SL(2; 5) E G groups in light of 1 the classifcation? 1 E 2 Z E SL(2; 5) E ±SL(2; 5) E G. The extension problem Maximal These composition series, although different, have the same (multiset subgroups ∼ of) composition factors, namely fC2; C2; C2; PSL(2; 5) = Alt(5)g. Jordan-H¨oldertheorem Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers Why do we care about simple groups? What do we Theorem (Jordan-H¨older) know about simple groups? Any two composition series for a group G have the same composition What questions are there about factors, up to permutation and isomorphism. groups in light of the classifcation? The extension This gives us a well-defined notion of 'factors' of a group, somewhat problem Maximal equivalent to the notion of primes in number theory. Thus, by subgroups understanding all simple groups we understand all the factors of a group. The Classification of Finite Simple Groups (CFSG) Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers Why do we care about simple groups? What do we know about simple groups? What questions are there about The classification of finite simple groups is a question which took groups in light of the classifcation? over a century from proposal to proof. The extension problem Maximal subgroups 1870 - Camille Jordan discovers 4 classes of simple groups, which we now call the classical groups, over fields of prime order. 1873 - Emile´ Mathieu discovers 5 'sporadic' simple groups (ones that are not part of infinite families). 1892 - Otto H¨olderfirst asks for a classification of finite simple groups. CFSG history Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers 1832 - Evariste´ Galois defines Why do we care a normal subgroup and proves about simple groups? that Alt(n) is simple for What do we n > 4. know about simple groups? What questions are there about groups in light of the classifcation? The extension problem Maximal subgroups 1873 - Emile´ Mathieu discovers 5 'sporadic' simple groups (ones that are not part of infinite families). 1892 - Otto H¨olderfirst asks for a classification of finite simple groups. CFSG history Finite Simple Groups Daniel Rogers 1832 - Evariste´ Galois defines Why do we care a normal subgroup and proves about simple groups? that Alt(n) is simple for What do we n > 4. know about simple groups? 1870 - Camille Jordan What questions are there about discovers 4 classes of simple groups in light of the classifcation? groups, which we now call the The extension problem classical groups, over fields of Maximal subgroups prime order.