Classification of finite simple groups

The Classification of finite simple groups is a mega-theorem which states that every finite simple group belongs to one of eighteen infinite families of simple groups, or to one of 26 sporadic simple groups.

The eighteen families

Here are the families, up to isomorphism. Note that these families are one-parameter, two-parameter or three-parameter families. Each parameter varies either over prime numbers or over natural numbers. Many of the families have a few small exceptions that turn out not to be simple groups.

Also, some of these families have intersections, i.e., there are some groups that occur in multiple families. The intersection of any two families is finite: there are only finitely many groups that are simultaneously in two distinct families.

No.	Family name	Nature of parameters	Notation for group	Chevalley notation (if applicable)	Order	Exceptions(not simple)	Links to proofs
1	cyclic groups of prime order	prime number $p$	${\mathbb{Z}}_p$ or $C_p$	--	$p$	--	No proper nontrivial subgroup implies cyclic of prime order, prime order implies no proper nontrivial subgroup
2	alternating group	natural number $n$	$A_n$	--	$n!/2$	$n=1,2,4$	A5 is simple, alternating groups are simple
3	projective special linear group	natural number $n$ (degree), prime power $q=p^r$ (field size)	$PSL(n,q)$	$A_{n-1}(q)$	$\frac{q^{n(n-1)/2}\prod _{i=2}^n(q^r-1)}{\mathrm{g}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{d}(n,q-1)}$	$PSL(2,2),PSL(2,3)$	Projective special linear group is simple
4	projective symplectic group	even natural number $n$ (degree), prime power $q=p^r$ (field size)	$PSp(n,q)$	$C_{n/2}(q)$	$q^{(n/2{)}^2}[\prod _{i=1}^{n/2}(q^{2i}-1)]/\mathrm{g}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{d}(2,q-1)$	$PSp(2,2)$, $PSp(2,3)$	Projective symplectic group is simple
5	Suzuki group	Parameter $m$, effectively $q=2^{1+2m}$	$Sz(q)=Sz(2^{1+2m})$	$2^{}{B}_2(q)$	$q^2(q^2+1)(q-1)=2^{2+4m}(2^{2+4m}+1)(2^{1+2m}-1)$	$m=0$, so $Sz(2)$
6	Ree group	Parameter $m>0$, effectively $q=3^{1+2m}$	$Ree(q)=Ree(3^{1+2m})$	$2^{}{G}_2(q)$	$q^3(q^3+1)(q-1)$	$m=0$, so $Ree(3)$

12 more families need to be entered in the table above.

The twenty-six sporadic simple groups

1. The five Mathieu groups.
2. The four Janko groups.
3. The three Conway groups.
4. The three Fischer groups.
5. The Higman-Sims group.
6. The McLaughlin group.
7. The Held group.
8. The Rudvalis group
9. The Suzuki sporadic group.
10. The O'Nan group.
11. The Harada-Norton group.
12. The Lyons group.
13. The Thompson group.
14. The Baby Monster group.
15. The monster group: This is the largest sporadic simple group.

References

Expository article references

• A brief history of the classification of the finite simple groups by Ronald Mark Solomon, Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society, ISSN 10889485 (electronic), ISSN 02730979 (print), Volume 38,Number 3, Page 315 - 352(Year 2001): An expository paper by Ronald Mark Solomon describing the 110-year history of the classification of finite simple groups.^{Weblink (PDF)More info}
• Paper:AschbacherCFSG^{More info}