On Spectra of Almost Simple Extensions of Even-Dimensional Orthogonal Groups

The spectrum of a finite group is the set of the orders of its elements. We consider the problem that arises within the framework of recognition of finite simple groups by spectrum: Determine all finite almost simple groups having the same spectrum as its socle. This problem was solved for all almost simple groups with exception of the case that the socle is a simple even-dimensional orthogonal group over a field of odd characteristic. Here we address this remaining case and determine the almost simple groups in question.Also we prove that there are infinitely many pairwise nonisomorphic finite groups having the same spectrum as the simple 8-dimensional symplectic group over a field of characteristic other than 7.