Two-generation conjecture for traceless matrices over the binary field

From papers

Let nn be a positive integer, and let sln(F2)\operatorname{\mathfrak{sl}}_n(\mathbf{F}_2) denote the Lie algebra of traceless n×nn\times n matrices over the field with two elements.

Two-generation conjecture. If n4n \neq 4, then sln(F2)\operatorname{\mathfrak{sl}}_n(\mathbf{F}_2) is 22-generated.

The authors report that random computer searches found generating pairs for every n20n\leq 20 except n=4n=4, motivating the conjecture. The statement concerns the unresolved even-characteristic case; the context provided does not establish it for all nn or explain the exceptional case n=4n=4.

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Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Omer Cantor, Urban Jezernik and Andoni Zozaya, “Two-generation of traceless matrices over finite fields”, arXiv:2404.11240 (2025).

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