Abelian composition factors of finite rational groups

Abstract

Motivated by an observation concerning the $S_3$-conjecture, we prove that every abelian composition factor of a finite rational group has order $2$, $3$, or $5$. Thompson previously restricted these orders to $\{2,3,5,7,11\}$; we exclude $7$ and $11$, establishing the bound that he proposed. Together with the work of Feit and Seitz on nonabelian composition factors, this completes the determination of the possible composition factors of finite rational groups.