On conjugacy classes of GL(n,q) and SL(n,q)

Abstract

Let GL(n,q) be the group of nxn invertible matrices over a field with q elements, and SL(n,q) be the group of nxn matrices with determinant 1 over a field with q elements. We prove that the product of any two non-central conjugacy classes in GL(n,q) is the union of at least q-1 distinct conjugacy classes, and that the product of any two non-central conjugacy classes in SL(n,q) is the union of at least $\lceil \frac{q}{2}\rceil$ distinct conjugacy classes.

arXiv comment9 pages