Generating $\psl{2}{q}$ by elements of prime orders $2$ and $p$

Abstract

For primes $p\ge 5$, we determine those $q$ for which the projective special linear group $\psl{2}{q}$ over the finite field of order $q$ is $(2,p)$-generated -- that is, there exist two elements of $\psl{2}{q}$ of orders $2$ and $p$, respectively, that generate $\psl{2}{q}$.

The fourth author is a PIMS Postdoctoral Fellow