Dickson Group

The group of exponential automorphisms of a classical simple Lie algebra of type $G_2$ over a finite field $F$. If the order of $F$ is $q$, the order of the Dickson group is $q^6(q^2-1)(q^6-1)$. If $q>2$ the Dickson group is a simple group. These groups were discovered by L.E. Dickson [1]. During the 50 years which followed no new finite simple group could be discovered, until a general method for obtaining simple groups as groups of automorphisms of simple Lie algebras was discovered by C. Chevalley [2] (cf. Chevalley group). In particular, Chevalley's method makes it possible to obtain Dickson groups as well [3].

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