New simple groups with a BN-pair

TL;DR

This paper constructs simple groups with a spherical BN-pair of rank 2 that are non-Moufang, demonstrating the existence of such groups outside algebraic groups.

Contribution

It introduces new simple groups with spherical BN-pairs of rank 2 that are not of algebraic origin, expanding the known class of such groups.

Findings

Existence of non-Moufang simple groups with spherical BN-pair of rank 2

These groups are not of algebraic origin

Demonstrates new examples of simple groups with specific BN-pair properties

Abstract

We show that there are simple groups with a spherical BN-pair of rank 2 which are non-Moufang and hence not of algebraic origin.