Random and Deterministic Triangle Generation of Three-Dimensional Classical Groups III

Abstract

Let p1, p2, p3 be primes. This is the final paper in a series of three on the (p1, p2, p3)-generation of the finite projective special unitary and linear groups PSU 3(pn), PSL 3(pn), where we say a noncyclic group is (p1, p2, p3)-generated if it is a homomorphic image of the triangle group Tp1, p2, p3 . This article is concerned with the case where p1 = 2 and p2 ≠ p3. We determine for any primes p2 ≠ p3 the prime powers pn such that PSU 3(pn) (respectively, PSL 3(pn)) is a quotient of T = T2, p2, p3 . We also derive the limit of the probability that a randomly chosen homomorphism in Hom(T, PSU 3(pn)) (respectively, Hom(T, PSL 3(pn))) is surjective as pn tends to infinity.