The following table is a complete list of the 18 families of finite simple groups and the 26 sporadic simple groups, along with their orders. Any non-simple members of each family are listed, as well as any members duplicated within a family or between families. (In removing duplicates it is useful to note that no two finite simple groups have the same order, except that the group A8 = A3(2) and A2(4) both have order 20160, and that the group Bn(q) has the same order as Cn(q) for q odd, n > 2. The smallest of the latter pairs of groups are B3(3) and C3(3) which both have order 4585351680.)
There is an unfortunate conflict between the notations for the alternating groups An and the groups of Lie type An(q). Some authors use various different fonts for An to distinguish them. In particular,
in this article we make the distinction by setting the alternating groups An in Roman font and the Lie-type groups An(q) in italic.
In what follows, n is a positive integer, and q is a positive power of a prime number p, with the restrictions noted. The notation (a,b) represents the greatest common divisor of the integers a and b.
Outer automorphism group: In general 2. Exceptions: for n = 1, n = 2, it is trivial, and for n = 6, it has order 4 (elementary abelian).
Other names: Altn.
Isomorphisms: A1 and A2 are trivial. A3 is cyclic of order 3. A4 is isomorphic to A1(3) (solvable). A5 is isomorphic to A1(4) and to A1(5). A6 is isomorphic to A1(9) and to the derived group B2(2)′. A8 is isomorphic to A3(2).
Remarks: An index 2 subgroup of the symmetric group of permutations of n points when n > 1.
Groups of Lie type
Notation:n is a positive integer, q > 1 is a power of a prime number p, and is the order of some underlying finite field. The order of the outer automorphism group is written as d⋅f⋅g, where d is the order of the group of "diagonal automorphisms", f is the order of the (cyclic) group of "field automorphisms" (generated by a Frobenius automorphism), and g is the order of the group of "graph automorphisms" (coming from automorphisms of the Dynkin diagram). The outer automorphism group is often, but not always, isomorphic to the semidirect product where all these groups are cyclic of the respective orders d, f, g, except for type , odd, where the group of order is , and (only when ) , the symmetric group on three elements. The notation (a,b) represents the greatest common divisor of the integers a and b.
A1(2) and A1(3) are solvable, the others are simple.
B2(2) is not simple but its derived group B2(2)′ is a simple subgroup of index 2; the others are simple.
All simple
All simple
Order
Schur multiplier
For the simple groups it is cyclic of order (n+1,q−1) except for A1(4) (order 2), A1(9) (order 6), A2(2) (order 2), A2(4) (order 48, product of cyclic groups of orders 3, 4, 4), A3(2) (order 2).
(2,q−1) except for B2(2) = S6 (order 2 for B2(2), order 6 for B2(2)′) and B3(2) (order 2) and B3(3) (order 6).
(2,q−1) except for C3(2) (order 2).
The order is (4,qn−1) (cyclic for n odd, elementary abelian for n even) except for D4(2) (order 4, elementary abelian).
Outer automorphism group
(2,q−1)⋅f⋅1 for n = 1; (n+1,q−1)⋅f⋅2 for n > 1, where q = pf
(2,q−1)⋅f⋅1 for q odd or n > 2; (2,q−1)⋅f⋅2 for q even and n = 2, where q = pf
(2,q−1)⋅f⋅1, where q = pf
(2,q−1)2⋅f⋅S3 for n = 4, (2,q−1)2⋅f⋅2 for n > 4 even, (4,qn−1)⋅f⋅2 for n odd, where q = pf, and S3 is the symmetric group of order 3! on 3 points.
O2n+(q), PΩ2n+(q). "Hypoabelian group" is an archaic name for this group in characteristic 2.
Isomorphisms
A1(2) is isomorphic to the symmetric group on 3 points of order 6. A1(3) is isomorphic to the alternating group A4 (solvable). A1(4) and A1(5) are both isomorphic to the alternating group A5. A1(7) and A2(2) are isomorphic. A1(8) is isomorphic to the derived group 2G2(3)′. A1(9) is isomorphic to A6 and to the derived group B2(2)′. A3(2) is isomorphic to A8.
Bn(2m) is isomorphic to Cn(2m). B2(2) is isomorphic to the symmetric group on 6 points, and the derived group B2(2)′ is isomorphic to A1(9) and to A6. B2(3) is isomorphic to 2A3(22).
Cn(2m) is isomorphic to Bn(2m)
Remarks
These groups are obtained from the general linear groups GLn+1(q) by taking the elements of determinant 1 (giving the special linear groups SLn+1(q)) and then quotienting out by the center.
This is the group obtained from the orthogonal group in dimension 2n + 1 by taking the kernel of the determinant and spinor norm maps. B1(q) also exists, but is the same as A1(q). B2(q) has a non-trivial graph automorphism when q is a power of 2.
This group is obtained from the symplectic group in 2n dimensions by quotienting out the center. C1(q) also exists, but is the same as A1(q). C2(q) also exists, but is the same as B2(q).
This is the group obtained from the split orthogonal group in dimension 2n by taking the kernel of the determinant (or Dickson invariant in characteristic 2) and spinor norm maps and then killing the center. The groups of type D4 have an unusually large diagram automorphism group of order 6, containing the triality automorphism. D2(q) also exists, but is the same as A1(q)×A1(q). D3(q) also exists, but is the same as A3(q).
Trivial for the simple groups except for G2(3) (order 3) and G2(4) (order 2)
Outer automorphism group
(3,q−1)⋅f⋅2, where q = pf
(2,q−1)⋅f⋅1, where q = pf
1⋅f⋅1, where q = pf
1⋅f⋅1 for q odd, 1⋅f⋅2 for q even, where q = pf
1⋅f⋅1 for q not a power of 3, 1⋅f⋅2 for q a power of 3, where q = pf
Other names
Exceptional Chevalley group
Exceptional Chevalley group
Exceptional Chevalley group
Exceptional Chevalley group
Exceptional Chevalley group
Isomorphisms
The derived group G2(2)′ is isomorphic to 2A2(32).
Remarks
Has two representations of dimension 27, and acts on the Lie algebra of dimension 78.
Has a representations of dimension 56, and acts on the corresponding Lie algebra of dimension 133.
It acts on the corresponding Lie algebra of dimension 248. E8(3) contains the Thompson simple group.
These groups act on 27-dimensional exceptional Jordan algebras, which gives them 26-dimensional representations. They also act on the corresponding Lie algebras of dimension 52. F4(q) has a non-trivial graph automorphism when q is a power of 2.
These groups are the automorphism groups of 8-dimensional Cayley algebras over finite fields, which gives them 7-dimensional representations. They also act on the corresponding Lie algebras of dimension 14. G2(q) has a non-trivial graph automorphism when q is a power of 3. Moreover, they appear as automorphism groups of certain point-line geometries called split Cayley generalized hexagons.
Steinberg groups, 2An(q2) n > 1, 2Dn(q2) n > 3, 2E6(q2), 3D4(q3)
Cyclic of order (n+1,q+1) for the simple groups, except for 2A3(22) (order 2), 2A3(32) (order 36, product of cyclic groups of orders 3,3,4), 2A5(22) (order 12, product of cyclic groups of orders 2,2,3)
Cyclic of order (4,qn+1)
(3,q+1) except for 2E6(22) (order 12, product of cyclic groups of orders 2,2,3).
2Dn(q), O2n−(q), PΩ2n−(q), twisted Chevalley group. "Hypoabelian group" is an archaic name for this group in characteristic 2.
2E6(q), twisted Chevalley group
3D4(q), D42(q3), Twisted Chevalley groups
Isomorphisms
The solvable group 2A2(22) is isomorphic to an extension of the order 8 quaternion group by an elementary abelian group of order 9. 2A2(32) is isomorphic to the derived group G2(2)′. 2A3(22) is isomorphic to B2(3).
Remarks
This is obtained from the unitary group in n + 1 dimensions by taking the subgroup of elements of determinant 1 and then quotienting out by the center.
This is the group obtained from the non-split orthogonal group in dimension 2n by taking the kernel of the determinant (or Dickson invariant in characteristic 2) and spinor norm maps and then killing the center. 2D2(q2) also exists, but is the same as A1(q2). 2D3(q2) also exists, but is the same as 2A3(q2).
One of the exceptional double covers of 2E6(22) is a subgroup of the baby monster group, and the exceptional central extension by the elementary abelian group of order 4 is a subgroup of the monster group.
3D4(23) acts on the unique even 26-dimensional lattice of determinant 3 with no roots.
Simplicity: Simple for n ≥ 1. The group
2B2(2) is solvable.
Order:q2
(q2 + 1)
(q − 1),
where
q = 22n+1.
Schur multiplier: Trivial for n ≠ 1, elementary abelian of order 4
for 2B2(8).
Outer automorphism group:
1⋅f⋅1,
where f = 2n + 1.
Other names: Suz(22n+1), Sz(22n+1).
Isomorphisms:2B2(2) is the Frobenius group of order 20.
Remarks: Suzuki group are Zassenhaus groups acting on sets of size (22n+1)2 + 1, and have 4-dimensional representations over the field with 22n+1 elements. They are the only non-cyclic simple groups whose order is not divisible by 3. They are not related to the sporadic Suzuki group.
Simplicity: Simple for n ≥ 1. The derived group 2F4(2)′ is simple of index 2
in 2F4(2), and is called the Tits group,
named for the Belgian mathematician Jacques Tits.
The Tits group has order 17971200 = 211 ⋅ 33 ⋅ 52 ⋅ 13.
Schur multiplier: Trivial for n ≥ 1 and for the Tits group.
Outer automorphism group:
1⋅f⋅1,
where f = 2n + 1. Order 2 for the Tits group.
Remarks: Unlike the other simple groups of Lie type, the Tits group does not have a BN pair, though its automorphism group does so most authors count it as a sort of honorary group of Lie type.
A 4-transitive permutation group on 11 points, and is the point stabilizer of M12 (in the 5-transitive 12-point permutation representation of M12). The group M11 is also contained in M23. The subgroup of M11 fixing a point in the 4-transitive 11-point permutation representation is sometimes called M10, and has a subgroup of index 2 isomorphic to the alternating group A6.
A 3-transitive permutation group on 22 points, and is the point stabilizer of M23 (in the 4-transitive 23-point permutation representation of M23). The subgroup of M22 fixing a point in the 3-transitive 22-point permutation representation is sometimes called M21, and is isomorphic to PSL(3,4) (i.e. isomorphic to A2(4)).
A 4-transitive permutation group on 23 points, and is the point stabilizer of M24 (in the 5-transitive 24-point permutation representation of M24).
It is a subgroup of G2(11), and so has a 7-dimensional representation over the field with 11 elements.
The automorphism group J2:2 of J2 is the automorphism group of a rank 3 graph on 100 points called the Hall-Janko graph. It is also the automorphism group of a regular near octagon called the Hall-Janko near octagon. The group J2 is contained in G2(4).
J3 seems unrelated to any other sporadic groups (or to anything else). Its triple cover has a 9-dimensional unitary representation over the field with 4 elements.
Has a 112-dimensional representation over the field with 2 elements.
Remarks: Centralizes an element of order 3 in the monster. Has a 248-dimensional representation which, when reduced modulo 3, leads to containment in E8(3).
Remarks: The double cover is contained in the monster group. It has a representation of dimension 4371 over the complex numbers (with no nontrivial invariant product), and a representation of dimension 4370 over the field with 2 elements preserving a commutative but non-associative product.
^There were several mistakes made in the initial calculations of the Schur multiplier, so some older books and papers list incorrect values. (This caused an error in the title of Janko's original 1976 paper[1] giving evidence for the existence of the group J4. At the time it was thought that the full covering group of M22 was 6⋅M22. In fact J4 has no subgroup 12⋅M22.)
Conway, J. H.; Curtis, R. T.; Norton, S. P.; Parker, R. A.; and Wilson, R. A.: "Atlas of Finite Groups: Maximal Subgroups and Ordinary Characters for Simple Groups." Oxford, England 1985.