London Algebra Colloquium abstract

A survey of the symmetric generation of groups

Robert T. Curtis (Birmingham), 15th November 2007

Abstract

We explain how many interesting groups can be concisely and revealingly defined in terms of highly symmetric subsets of their own elements. Although some classical groups will be mentioned, the emphasis will be on sporadic simple groups. Thus we shall start with the Mathieu groups M12 and M24, and proceed to the largest Janko group J4 and the Conway group ⋅0 = Co0 = 2⋅Co1.