Abstract
Let G be a nontrivial transitive permutation group on a finite set Ω. An element of G is said to be a derangement if it has no fixed points on Ω. From the orbit counting lemma, it follows that G contains a derangement, and in fact G contains a derangement of prime power order by a theorem of Fein, Kantor and Schacher. However, there are groups with no derangements of prime order; these are the so-called elusive groups and they have been widely studied in recent years. Extending this notion, we say that G is almost elusive if it contains a unique conjugacy class of derangements of prime order. In this paper we first prove that every quasiprimitive almost elusive group is either almost simple or 2-transitive of affine type. We then classify all the almost elusive groups that are almost simple and primitive with socle an alternating group, a sporadic group, or a rank one group of Lie type.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 519-543 |
Number of pages | 25 |
Journal | Journal of Algebra |
Volume | 594 |
Early online date | 10 Dec 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Mar 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Acknowledgments. Both authors thank Tim Dokchitser and Michael Giudici for helpful conversations concerning the content of this paper. EVH also acknowledges the financial support of the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Inc.