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On $K^4$, use the standard basis $\mathcal{U}=(u_1,u_2,u_3,u_4)$ and the alternating bilinear form with matrix $J$ above for $n=2$. A second symplectic basis isFor instance, $\omega (f_1,f_2)=1-1=0$, while $\omega (e_1,f_1)=\omega (e_2,f_2)=1$ and the cross-pairings vanish. The change of basis matrix, whose columns are these new basis vectors in $\mathcal{U}$, isThe symmetric matrix $C$ makes $S^{T}JS=J$, so $S$ is a symplectic matrix. Explicitly, multiplying the blocks gives a lower-right block $C^T-C=0$; the other blocks agree with $J$. For a fixed vector, change of basis means $[v{]}_{\mathcal{U}}=S[v{]}_{\mathcal{B}}$, henceTheir symplectic form gives $3\cdot 0+2\cdot 1-1\cdot 1-1\cdot 0=1$ in $\mathcal{U}$, and $1\cdot 0+1\cdot 1-1\cdot 0-1\cdot 0=1$ in $\mathcal{B}$. The separate coordinate-plane contributions change, but their sum does not.

The same matrix also represents an active symplectic linear map: keeping one basis fixed, it sends $(q,p)$ to $(q+Cp,p)$. The following diagram shows this active interpretation over the real numbers. Its preserved total pairing is precisely the test used for linear canonical transformations.

Write vectors in a symplectic basis as $v={\sum }_i(q_i{e}_i+p_i{f}_i)$ and $w={\sum }_i(Q_i{e}_i+P_i{f}_i)$. Their coordinate vectors and the matrix of a bilinear form areHere $I_n$ is the identity matrix, and $T$ denotes transpose. The ordering matters: interleaving the basis as $(e_1,f_1,\dots ,e_n,f_n)$ instead gives a block diagonal matrix with $2\times 2$ blocks $\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& 1\\ -1& 0\end{array}\right)$. Some conventions reverse every $f_i$, giving $-J$ instead. Always check the displayed pairing convention.^[ref]

Over the real numbers, each summand is the signed area of a parallelogram in the $(q_i,p_i)$ coordinate plane. For $a=(2,1,1,1{)}^T$ and $b=(1,1,0,2{)}^T$, the two signed areas are $-1$ and $1$, so $\omega (a,b)=0$ although the vectors are linearly independent. The cancellation concerns the symplectic form; it does not assert that their dot product vanishes. Over a general field, the same determinant formula is algebraic, without a signed geometric interpretation.

Let $q$ be a prime power and let $V={\mathbb{F}}_q^{2m}$ carry a nondegenerate alternating bilinear form $B$. The symplectic group over a finite field isIn a symplectic basis its matrix description is $g^{\mathsf{T}}Jg=J$, where $J=\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& I_m\\ -I_m& 0\end{array}\right)$. The definition is valid in characteristic two: alternating means $B(v,v)=0$, and then the form is also symmetric.

Count ordered symplectic bases $(e_1,f_1,\dots ,e_m,f_m)$ with $B(e_i,f_j)={\delta }_{ij}$ and all $e$-$e$ and $f$-$f$ pairings zero. There are $q^{2m}-1$ choices for $e_1\ne 0$. Nondegeneracy makes $v\mapsto B(e_1,v)$ a nonzero linear functional, so there are $q^{2m-1}$ choices for $f_1$ satisfying $B(e_1,f_1)=1$.

The span $P=⟨e_1,f_1⟩$ is nondegenerate. Thus $V=P\oplus P^{\perp }$, and its bilinear orthogonal complement is nondegenerate of dimension $2m-2$. For completeness, a vector in the radical of a bilinear form of $P^{\perp }$ is orthogonal both to $P$ and to $P^{\perp }$, hence to all $V$ and therefore zero. Recursing constructs and counts every symplectic basis. If $b_m$ is their number, $b_m=(q^{2m}-1)q^{2m-1}{b}_{m-1}$ with $b_0=1$.

The symplectic group over a finite field acts freely and transitively on symplectic bases: there is a unique linear map sending one ordered basis to another, and its equality of basis pairings ensures it preserves $B$. Its order is consequently $b_m$, givingThe exponent is $1+3+\cdots +(2m-1)=m^2$. The counting is valid for every prime power $q$, including $q=2$.

Set $n=6$ in part (b). The quotient $W=u^{\perp }/⟨u⟩$ has dimension four and a nondegenerate alternating form. The coordinate action therefore definesProve it is faithful before comparing orders. If a permutation lies in the kernel of a group homomorphism, it fixes the quotient class of each two-element subset $A$. That class has exactly the two representatives $A$ and $A+\Omega =\Omega \setminus A$. Their cardinalities are two and four. A coordinate permutation preserves cardinality, so it must fix $A$ itself, not exchange it with its complement. Thus it fixes every two-element subset. Intersecting the fixed sets $\{i,j\}$ and $\{i,k\}$ shows it fixes each singleton $\{i\}$, so it is the identity. Hence $\rho$ is injective.

By part (a),An injection between finite groups of equal order is surjective. Choosing a symplectic basis of $W$ identifies the form with the standard one, soThis realizes the exceptional isomorphism through a concrete binary permutation module. Equality of orders alone would not establish it; the faithful form-preserving action supplies the required group homomorphism.

Let $X$ be a connected compact Riemann surface of genus $g$. Choose an oriented symplectic basis $a_1,\dots ,a_g,b_1,\dots ,b_g$ of $H_1(X,\mathbb{Z})$, with $a_i\cdot b_j={\delta }_{ij}$. For a closed complex differential form $\alpha$, write $A_i(\alpha )={\int }_{a_i}\alpha$ and $B_i(\alpha )={\int }_{b_i}\alpha$. The Riemann bilinear relations begin with the identityTo prove it, cut $X$ along the chosen cycles to obtain a fundamental polygon $P$. On this simply connected polygon, a closed differential form has a primitive $F$, with $dF=\alpha$. Stokes theorem gives ${\int }_P\alpha \wedge \beta ={\int }_{\partial P}F\beta$. The two copies of each edge have opposite orientations, and their values of $F$ differ by the period acquired in passing between them. Pairing the copies of the $a_i$ and $b_i$ edges gives, respectively, $-B_i(\alpha )A_i(\beta )$ and $A_i(\alpha )B_i(\beta )$. Summing proves the identity; the convention $a_i\cdot b_i=1$ fixes its sign.

For holomorphic one-forms $\omega ,\eta$, their wedge product is zero because locally both are multiples of $dz$. Thus the first holomorphic Riemann bilinear relations isFor a nonzero holomorphic one-form $\omega =f(z)dz$, the second relation follows by applying the bilinear identity to $\omega ,\overline{\omega }$:In particular, a holomorphic one-form with all $a$-periods zero must vanish. Since $\dim H^0(X,K_X)=g$, the map taking a holomorphic one-form to its $a$-periods is an isomorphism. We can therefore choose normalized holomorphic one-forms ${\omega }_1,\dots ,{\omega }_g$ with ${\int }_{a_i}{\omega }_j={\delta }_{ij}$. Put $B_{ij}={\int }_{b_i}{\omega }_j$. The first relation applied to ${\omega }_j,{\omega }_k$ gives $B_{jk}=B_{kj}$, and the second applied to ${\sum }_j{c}_j{\omega }_j$ gives $2{\overline{c}}^{,t}(\mathrm{Im}B)c>0$ for $c\ne 0$. ConsequentlyThese conclusions make the construction of the Jacobian variety work. Integration identifies the image of $H_1(X,\mathbb{Z})$ in $H^0(X,K_X{)}^{\ast }$ with the period lattice $\Lambda ={\mathbb{Z}}^g+B{\mathbb{Z}}^g$. The real-linear map $(m,n)\mapsto m+Bn$ is invertible: its imaginary part is $Yn$, and $Y$ is invertible. Hence $\Lambda$ is a discrete lattice of full real rank $2g$, andis a compact complex torus, rather than a non-Hausdorff quotient. Changing the symplectic basis changes the displayed coordinates but not this intrinsic quotient.

The Riemann bilinear relations also supply its polarization of a complex torus. Use the Hermitian form $H(z,w)=z^t{Y}^{-1}\overline{w}$, linear in the first argument, and set $E=-\mathrm{Im}H$. Symmetry of $B$ givesThus $E$ is an integral positive Riemann form on a complex torus. Its matrix on the displayed lattice basis is the unimodular symplectic matrix. The corresponding positive holomorphic line bundle, equivalently the one constructed from theta automorphy in Solution 4, gives a principal polarization of a complex torus. By the Kodaira embedding theorem this makes the complex torus projective, hence an abelian variety. The normalization $E=-\mathrm{Im}H$ here is important because $H$ was chosen linear in its first argument. If $g=0$, the spaces of holomorphic one-forms and periods are zero and the Jacobian variety is a point.

For a symplectic vector space $(V,\omega )$ and a vector subspace $W$, the symplectic orthogonal complement isNondegenerate bilinear form identifies $V$ with its dual space, so $\dim W^{\omega }=\dim V-\dim W$. If $W$ is a symplectic subspace, $W\cap W^{\omega }=0$, and hence $V=W\oplus W^{\omega }$; the restriction to $W^{\omega }$ is also nondegenerate.

Here is an inductive construction of a symplectic basis. Choose $e_1\ne 0$. Nondegenerate bilinear form supplies $f_1$ with $\omega (e_1,f_1)=1$. The plane $P=\mathrm{span}(e_1,f_1)$ is a symplectic subspace, and its symplectic orthogonal complement gives $V=P\oplus P^{\omega }$. Repeat on $P^{\omega }$. The process ends in dimension zero, since each step removes two dimensions and a one-dimensional alternating form is degenerate. We obtain $e_1,f_1,\dots ,e_n,f_n$ withThe linear map taking the coordinate vectors of ${\mathbb{R}}^{2n}$ to this basis pulls $\omega$ back to ${\sum }_{j}d{x}_j\wedge d{y}_j$, proving the asserted normal form.

Now split $V=C\oplus D$ with $D=C^{\omega }$, and choose symplectic bases on both planes. Parametrize ${\Gamma }_A$ by $v\mapsto (Av,v)$. Orthogonality removes the cross terms, and a two-dimensional alternating form transforms by the determinant, soConsequently the correct nondegenerate bilinear form criterion isThe strict inequality printed in the PDF requires an extra orientation condition: it says that the symplectic orientation on the graph agrees with the orientation transported from $D$. It is not equivalent to being a symplectic subspace. For example, $A=\mathrm{diag}(-2,1)$ has determinant $-2$ and gives a nondegenerate restriction $-{\omega }_D$. This is the orientation criterion for a graph of symplectic planes.

This same map supplies the requested obstruction. Orient $C$ and ${\Gamma }_A$ by their restricted symplectic forms. If $(d_1,d_2)$ is a positive basis of $D$, then $(A{d}_1+d_1,A{d}_2+d_2)$ is negatively oriented in ${\Gamma }_A$. The coordinate transformation from a basis of $C$ followed by these graph vectors to a basis of $C\oplus D$ has determinant $1$. Reversing the graph basis to give its positive orientation therefore makes the oriented direct sum $C\oplus {\Gamma }_A$ negative relative to the ambient symplectic orientation.

Two distinct complex lines in standard ${\mathbb{C}}^2$ have the opposite behaviour: complex bases of the two lines give a complex-linear isomorphism $\mathbb{C}\oplus \mathbb{C}\to {\mathbb{C}}^2$, whose real determinant is the positive number $|{\det }_{\mathbb{C}}{|}^2$. Their complex orientations are their symplectic orientations. A symplectic linear map preserves both the ambient and each plane's symplectic orientation, so it cannot change this sign. Thus the pair with $A=\mathrm{diag}(-2,1)$ cannot be the image of a pair of complex lines. Interchanging the planes does not change the sign, since both dimensions are even.

Here is Witt's lemma with the hypotheses appropriate to the classical groups. Let $V$ be finite-dimensional with a nonsingular alternating bilinear form, a nonsingular symmetric bilinear form in characteristic different from two, or a nonsingular Hermitian form with nontrivial involution. Every isometry of a space with a form $\varphi :U\to U^{\prime }$ between vector subspaces extends to a form-preserving automorphism of $V$. For quadratic forms, the same statement holds in every characteristic when the polar bilinear form of a quadratic form is nonsingular and the isometry of a space with a form preserves the quadratic form itself. The restricted forms on $U,U^{\prime }$ may be degenerate. We prove these versions, including the characteristic-two quadratic case needed later.

For an alternating bilinear form $B$, split the restricted space as $U=H\oplus R$, where $R=U\cap U^{\perp }$ and $B{|}_H$ is nonsingular. Choose a symplectic basis for $H$ and a basis $r_1,\dots ,r_t$ of $R$. The nondegenerate form on $V$ supplies vectors $s_j$ in $H^{\perp }$ with $B(r_i,s_j)={\delta }_{ij}$. Adding linear combinations of the $r_i$ to the $s_j$ makes $B(s_i,s_j)=0$: for each pair $i<j$ one may cancel its pairing by adding an appropriate multiple of $r_i$ to $s_j$, without disturbing the dual pairings or previously treated pairs. This uses no division by two. Thus $H$ together with the pairs $(r_i,s_i)$ is nonsingular and its orthogonal complement for a sesquilinear form has a symplectic basis.

Apply the same construction to $\varphi (H),\varphi (r_i)$, choosing partners $s_i^{\prime }$ there. The two completed bases have identical alternating Gram matrices and equal remaining dimensions. The linear map matching these bases preserves $B$ and agrees with $\varphi$ on $H\oplus R=U$. This proves the alternating version over an arbitrary field, including characteristic two.

For a quadratic form $Q$, define its polar bilinear form of a quadratic form by $B(x,y)=Q(x+y)-Q(x)-Q(y)$. Its symmetrypreserves $Q$. The zero-dimensional case is immediate. Induct on $\dim U$: choose $Q(t)\ne 0$ and a hyperplane $K\subseteq U\cap t^{\perp }$. Extending $\varphi {|}_K$ first reduces to $\varphi {|}_K=I$. Put $U=K\oplus Fu$, $v=\varphi (u)$, $d=u-v\in S=K^{\perp }$. If $Q(d)\ne 0$, $s_d$ completes the extension. Otherwise $B(u,d)=B(v,d)=0$. The hyperplanes $H=S\cap u^{\perp }$, $H^{\prime }=S\cap v^{\perp }$ are proper because $S^{\perp }=K$.

For $a\in S\setminus (H\cup H^{\prime })$ with $Q(a)\ne 0$, set $c=u-s_a(v)$. Thenand $s_a{s}_c$ fixes $K$ and sends $u$ to $v$. If no such $a$ exists and $|F|>2$, the identityforces $Q(z)=B(a,z)=0$. The complement of two hyperplanes spans $S$: adding a multiple of any outside vector avoids at most two forbidden scalars. Hence $d\perp S$, so $H=H^{\prime }$, forcing $Q{|}_S=0$, contrary to $t\in S$.

Over ${\mathbb{F}}_2$, choose $a$ outside both hyperplanes. In the remaining case $Q(a)=Q(d)=B(a,d)=0$, and $B(a,u)=B(a,v)=1$. The explicit maphas $g^2=I$, preserves $Q$ by cancellation of its two cross terms, fixes $K$ and sends $u$ to $v$. This closes the induction. The characteristic-independent symmetry argument and its binary exceptional step are also treated in Casselman's quadratic-form notes and Elman, Karpenko and Merkurjev, section 8.

In odd characteristic a symmetric bilinear form is recovered by the polarization identity for $Q(x)=B(x,x)/2$, so the quadratic proof also proves its extension theorem. For completeness, the Hermitian form case has a similarly explicit induction. Take $h$ linear in the first variable, with conjugation $a\mapsto \bar{a}$. For anisotropic vectors for a form $u,v$ with equal value $A=h(u,u)=h(v,v)\ne 0$, let $d=u-v$ and $c=h(u,d)$. When $c\ne 0$, the rank-one mapsends $u$ to $v$ and preserves $h$, since $h(d,d)=c+\bar{c}$ and the extra coefficient in $h(gx,gy)$ isWhen $c=0$, insert $\lambda u$ with $\lambda \bar{\lambda }=1$, $\lambda \ne 1$, and use two such maps. Such a scalar exists for a nontrivial involution: $\lambda =a/\bar{a}$ with $a\ne \bar{a}$ works. If the source vector subspace contains an anisotropic vector for a form, align it this way and induct in its nonsingular orthogonal complement for a sesquilinear form.

If instead every source vector is isotropic, the Hermitian polarization identity makes its whole restricted form zero. Choose $e$ in its basis and a partner $f$ pairing to one with $e$ and to zero with the remaining source basis. Make $h(f,f)=0$ by replacing $f$ by $f-te$, where $t+\bar{t}=h(f,f)$. The trace map is onto the fixed field: in odd characteristic divide by two; in characteristic two scale a nonzero trace. Choose $a+\bar{a}\ne 0$. The orthogonal vectors $e+af$ and $e-\bar{a}f$ have nonzero values $a+\bar{a}$ and its negative, so the preceding rank-one construction aligns this entire hyperbolic pair with its target pair. The remaining source basis lies in the pair's orthogonal complement for a sesquilinear form; induction finishes the Hermitian proof.

The hypotheses matter. For example, the identity-matrix symmetric bilinear form on ${\mathbb{F}}_2^3$ has canonical vector $c=(1,1,1)$ characterized by $B(x,c)=B(x,x)$, so every isometry of a space with a form fixes $c$. The one-dimensional map $e_1\mapsto c$ preserves the restricted bilinear form but cannot extend. Thus “all symmetric forms in characteristic two” is not a correct replacement for the quadratic or alternating versions proved above.

Let $B$ be a nondegenerate alternating bilinear form on $V$ of dimension $2m$ over ${\mathbb{F}}_q$. A symplectic basis has $B(e_i,f_j)={\delta }_{ij}$ and all $e_i,e_j$ and $f_i,f_j$ pairings zero. Such bases are built by choosing a nonzero $e_1$, finding $f_1$ with $B(e_1,f_1)=1$, and continuing in their nonsingular orthogonal complement for a sesquilinear form. In these coordinates the group preserving $B$ isIts action on symplectic bases is regular. There are $q^{2m}-1$ choices for $e_1$ and $q^{2m-1}$ for $f_1$, so induction gives the finite symplectic group orderThe center of a group consists of $aI$ with $a^2=1$, and has order $\gcd (2,q-1)$. To see there are no other central elements, a central element commutes with every symplectic transvection and hence fixes every symplectic transvection center line; a linear map fixing every line is scalar. Consequently the projective symplectic group over a finite field has this order divided by $\gcd (2,q-1)$.

Here is a proof of the main ingredients in simplicity. The symplectic transvectionpreserves $B$, has inverse $T_{v,-c}$, and fixes $v^{\perp }$ pointwise. These transformations generate $S{p}_{2m}(q)$. Indeed if $B(u,w)\ne 0$, then $T_{w-u,1/B(u,w)}$ sends $u$ to $w$. If the pairing is zero, choose an intermediate vector having nonzero pairing with both, so two symplectic transvections suffice. This aligns the first vector of any symplectic basis. For partners $f,f^{\prime }$ of the same $e$, their difference lies in $e^{\perp }$. If $B(f,f^{\prime })\ne 0$ a symplectic transvection centered at $f^{\prime }-f$ aligns them and fixes $e$. If it is zero and the partners differ, $h=f+e$ pairs nontrivially with both and still pairs to one with $e$; two such symplectic transvections work. After fixing the pair, induction in its orthogonal complement for a sesquilinear form aligns the rest of the basis.

The projective action on one-spaces is faithful. For $m\ge 2$, a line stabilizer has three orbits: the line itself, the other lines perpendicular to it, and the lines not perpendicular to it. Witt's lemma proves transitivity within the latter two orbits by matching the two-dimensional restricted form. This action is primitive. A block containing distinct perpendicular lines $L,M$ is invariant under both stabilizers and therefore contains a line perpendicular to $M$ but not to $L$. A block containing distinct nonperpendicular lines likewise contains a line perpendicular to $L$ but not to $M$, by using the $M$ stabilizer. Such lines exist by nonsingularity in dimension at least four. Either possibility makes the block contain both nontrivial stabilizer orbits, hence every line. For $m=1$ the action on the projective line is two-transitive and thus primitive.

Symplectic transvections with one fixed center line form an Abelian normal subgroup of its stabilizer, and their conjugates generate the whole group. The Iwasawa simplicity lemma now reduces simplicity to being perfect. Its short proof is useful: any nontrivial normal subgroup of a faithful primitive group is transitive, since its orbits are blocks. Writing $G=NH$, where $H$ is a point stabilizer, shows that all conjugates of the specified Abelian subgroup have the same image modulo $N$. Thus $G/N$ is Abelian. If $G$ is perfect, $N=G$.

The groups can also be shown to be perfect concretely. For $q>3$ choose $a$ with $a^2\ne 1$ and let $D$ scale $e$ by $a$ and $f$ by $a^{-1}$. Thenso every symplectic transvection is a group commutator. For $q=3,m\ge 2$, symplectic transvections of coefficient one are conjugate, have order three, and the four with centers $e_1,e_2,e_1+e_2,e_1-e_2$ in a two-dimensional totally isotropic subspace multiply to the identity. They commute, and the sum of their rank-one terms is zero modulo three. Their common class in the abelianization is therefore annihilated by both three and four, hence is zero. For $q=2,m\ge 3$, use the seven nonzero vectors of a three-dimensional totally isotropic subspace. The symplectic transvections commute and their product is the identity, because each diagonal coefficient occurs four times and each cross coefficient twice. Their common abelianized class is annihilated by two and seven, hence is zero. Generation now proves these groups are perfect.

It follows thatThe exceptions are $S_3$, $A_4$ and $S_6$ respectively. For odd $q$ the full symplectic group over a finite field has nontrivial center of a group, so simplicity refers to its quotient group; for even $q$ the center of a group is trivial.

A symplectic parabolic subgroup stabilizes a flag of totally isotropic subspaces. The maximal such parabolic subgroups $P_r$ stabilize a single $r$-space, $1\le r\le m$. In an adapted basis their Levi subgroup is $G{L}_r(q)\times S{p}_{2m-2r}(q)$, with an arbitrary block of $r(2m-2r)$ parameters and a remaining symmetric block of $r(r+1)/2$ parameters. ThusThese are the single-member flag stabilizers, equivalently the standard maximal parabolic subgroups obtained by omitting one node of the symplectic Dynkin diagram. Two particular cases have transparent descriptions.

For the symplectic point stabilizer, write $V=⟨e,f⟩\perp W$. Its unipotent radical consists ofAll pairings are preserved by direct substitution. The product law is $(b,t)(b^{\prime },t^{\prime })=(b+b^{\prime },t+t^{\prime }+B(b,b^{\prime }))$, so this radical has order $q^{2m-1}$. With group commutator convention $uv{u}^{-1}{v}^{-1}$, its commutator has central parameter $2B(b,b^{\prime })$: it is Heisenberg-type in odd characteristic, but Abelian in characteristic two. A Levi subgroup scales $e,f$ inversely and acts as $Sp(W)$, givingThis index counts the one-spaces, all of which are isotropic for an alternating bilinear form.

For a Lagrangian subspace $E=⟨e_1,\dots ,e_m⟩$, the symplectic Lagrangian stabilizer has block formSubstituting into $g^{\mathsf{T}}Jg=J$ proves both the inverse-transpose lower block and symmetry of $S$. The unipotent radical is the additive group of symmetric matrices, and $A$ acts by $S\mapsto AS{A}^{\mathsf{T}}$. ThereforeThe last identity follows by canceling $q$-powers and $(q^j-1)$ factors in the two order formulas; it counts maximal totally isotropic subspaces.

For the degree-ten partition action of S6, take unordered partitions of six letters into two triples. There are $\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{6}{3}\right)/2=10$. Fix $A\mid A^c$. Its stabilizer is $(S_3\times S_3)⋊S_2=S_3\wr S_2$, permuting each triple and interchanging them. The subgroup generated by a 3-cycle in each triple has order nine, so is a Sylow subgroup of $S_6$. Any normalizer preserves its two three-point orbits; conversely all the indicated within-triple permutations and the swap normalize it. This proves the asserted normalizer exactly.

For any different partition $C\mid C^c$, $|A\cap C|$ is one or two after excluding the identical partition. Interchanging $C$ and $C^c$ identifies these two possibilities. The stabilizer of $A\mid A^c$ is transitive on each fixed intersection pattern, hence on all other nine partitions. The degree-ten action is two-transitive. It is also faithful: two distinct partitions have a common refinement with two singleton cells and two cells of size two. Every unordered pair of letters occurs as those singleton cells. A permutation fixing every partition therefore fixes every pair and consequently every letter.

For the subgroup factorization from coset transitivity, use cosets $Hg$ (right cosets) and right multiplication by $K$. The orbit of $H$ is precisely $\{Hk:k\in K\}$. This is every coset if and only if every $g$ can be written $hk$, provingA natural $S_5$ fixing one letter is transitive on the ten partitions: the triple containing the fixed letter is determined by any two of the other five. Taking $H=S_3\wr S_2$, $K=S_5$ gives $S_6=HK$; inversion gives the requested order as well,

Now let $B$ be the binary nondegenerate alternating bilinear form. Its binary quadratic refinements form an affine space: the difference of two such forms is linear, so for a fixed $Q_0$ every one is uniquelyIn a symplectic basis each refinement isA two-dimensional summand with $(a_i,b_i)\ne (1,1)$ admits a basis of singular vectors paired to one and is hyperbolic; the $(1,1)$ summand is anisotropic. Two planes spanned by anisotropic vectors for a form together become two hyperbolic planes of a quadratic form: with anisotropic basis pairs $(e_1,f_1),(e_2,f_2)$, the singular vectors $e_1+e_2,f_1+e_2$ pair to one; their orthogonal complement for a sesquilinear form has singular paired basis $e_1+f_1+f_2,e_1+f_1+e_2+f_2$. Consequently every refinement is equivalent to either $m$ hyperbolic planes of a quadratic form or $(m-1)$ hyperbolic planes of a quadratic form and one anisotropic plane (all three nonzero vectors are anisotropic vectors for a form).

These two types are different. Indeed the character sum of each plane is $+2$ or $-2$, soThus there are exactly two symplectic orbits $Q^{+}(B),Q^{-}(B)$, the signs denoting $\mathrm{Arf}=0,1$. Counting the three coefficient pairs with product zero and the one with product one givesThe same character sum gives the corresponding numbers of singular vectors, including zero, in a fixed form of either type.

Fix a form $Q$ of type $ϵ$. Completing the square by $x\mapsto x+v$ showsThe stabilizer of $Q$ is exactly $O(V,Q)$. It sends the parameter $v$ by its natural linear action or inverse action according to the chosen left/right convention. Other forms of the same type correspond to nonzero singular vectors $v$, and all forms of opposite type correspond to nonsingular vectors $v$. For two nonzero vectors of the same $Q$ value, the map between their spans is an isometry of a space with a form. Witt's lemma extends it, so the orthogonal stabilizer is transitive on each of these two vector sets. This proves the two-transitive binary quadratic-form actions: the symplectic group over a finite field is transitive on each type and its point stabilizer is transitive on all other members of that type.

In particular $O_{2m}^{-}(2)$ is transitive on the plus orbit. Identify that orbit with the cosets (right cosets) of a plus stabilizer, using $Q^g(x)=Q(gx)$ as a right action. The coset criterion then provesBoth genuine two-transitive actions require $m\ge 2$. At $m=1$ the plus orbit has three forms and the minus orbit is a singleton; transitivity and the factorization remain true, while two-transitive action on the singleton is only vacuous if one's convention permits degree one. No special simplicity assertion is needed for this argument. At $m=2$ the orbit sizes are ten and six, linking these actions with $S{p}_4(2)\cong S_6$ and the partition action above.

Let $V={\mathbb{R}}^4$ have symplectic basis $(e_1,f_1,e_2,f_2)$. Fix $\mathrm{vol}=e_1\wedge f_1\wedge e_2\wedge f_2$ and define a symmetric bilinear form $Q$ on ${\Lambda }^{2}V$ by $u\wedge v=Q(u,v)\mathrm{vol}$. The pairings between complementary basis bivectors split this six-dimensional space into three hyperbolic planes, so $Q$ has signature $(3,3)$.

The symplectic group preserves volume and the bivector $\Omega =e_1\wedge f_1+e_2\wedge f_2$, obtained from the inverse symplectic form, up to its fixed sign convention. Since $Q(\Omega ,\Omega )=2$, its orthogonal complement $W={\Omega }^{\perp }$ has dimension five and signature $(2,3)$. On $W$ use $-Q$, which has signature $(3,2)$. This constructs the exterior-square double cover of SO0(3,2).

If an element acts trivially on $W$, it also fixes $\Omega$, so its action on the entire exterior square is the identity. Every decomposable bivector then shows that its two-plane is preserved. A line is the intersection of two such planes; hence every line is preserved, and the matrix is scalar. Its exterior-square action forces its scalar square to equal one, giving precisely $\pm I$.

The derivative is injective by the same infinitesimal argument: zero action on ${\Lambda }^{2}V$ forces an infinitesimal scalar, whose induced scalar there is twice its value and therefore zero. The symplectic Lie algebra has dimension $2^2+2(2\cdot 3/2)=10$, from blocks $\left(\begin{array}{cc}A& B\\ C& -A^T\end{array}\right)$ with symmetric $B,C$. The orthogonal Lie algebra in five dimensions also has dimension ten. Thus the image is open. Real symplectic polar decomposition has connected compact factor $U(2)$ and a contractible positive symplectic factor, so $Sp(4,\mathbb{R})$ is connected and its image is exactly the identity component:As in the preceding noncompact cases, this does not identify the quotient with the disconnected full $SO(3,2)$.

Replace $F^n$ by a symplectic vector space $(V,B)$ of dimension $2m$, and elementary row operations by symplectic transvectionsThe cross terms in $B(Tx,Ty)$ cancel, and $B(v,v)=0$, so these maps preserve $B$. Their inverses are $T_{v,-c}$.

They generate $Sp(V)$ by the following symplectic basis elimination. If $B(u,v)\ne 0$, a single transvection with direction $v-u$ and parameter $1/B(u,v)$ sends $u$ to $v$. If $B(u,v)=0$ and $u\ne v$, choose $w$ with both $B(u,w)$ and $B(w,v)$ nonzero: the union of two proper hyperplanes does not exhaust a vector space, even over ${\mathbb{F}}_2$. Two transvections then suffice. Thus one can make a form-preserving linear map fix the first basis vector $e$. Next align its partner $f$, while keeping $e$ fixed. Two partners have difference in $e^{\perp }$, so the preceding single-transvection construction uses a direction in $e^{\perp }$ whenever their mutual pairing is nonzero. If it is zero, the intermediate partner $f+ae$, $a\ne 0$, has nonzero pairing with both. All these transvections fix $e$. Once both $e,f$ are fixed, recurse on their nondegenerate symplectic orthogonal complement. This proves generation over every field.

Use the action on the points of projective space, whose kernel is the scalar center $Z=\{\lambda I:{\lambda }^2=1\}$. For $m=1$ this is the $S{L}_2$ case. For $m\ge 2$ the action is primitive, although it is generally not two-transitive. The stabilizer of a line $L$ has two orbits on other lines: those orthogonal to $L$ and those not orthogonal to $L$. This follows by extending a hyperbolic pair, or an independent isotropic pair, to a symplectic basis. A block containing $L$ and a second line $M$ contains the entire corresponding orbit of the stabilizer of $L$. The stabilizer of $M$ then supplies a line of the other type: choose a vector orthogonal to one of $L,M$ and not to the other. Nondegeneracy and independence guarantee such a vector, also in dimension four. Hence the block contains both orbits and is the whole set.

The transvections along $L$ form an abelian normal subgroup of its stabilizer; their conjugates generate the group. Thus the Iwasawa simplicity lemma applies as soon as perfectness is established. For $|F|>3$, every transvection lies in an embedded $S{L}_2(F)$ acting on a hyperbolic plane, and 4(c) proves that embedded group perfect.

For the remaining fields, the perfectness of finite symplectic groups has a short direct proof. Over ${\mathbb{F}}_3$ with $m\ge 2$, all parameter-one transvections have the same class $t$ in the abelianization, and $3t=0$. In an isotropic plane with basis $u,v$, the four directions $u,v,u+v,u-v$ give commuting transvections whose product is $1$: their rank-one terms add to zero, sinceover ${\mathbb{F}}_3$. Thus $4t=0$, giving $t=0$. Parameter-two transvections are inverses, so all generators vanish in the abelianization. Over ${\mathbb{F}}_2$ with $m\ge 3$, use the seven nonzero vectors of an isotropic three-space. Their commuting transvections multiply to $1$, since each diagonal coordinate of ${\sum }_{0\ne v}v{v}^{\mathsf{T}}$ occurs four times and each off-diagonal coordinate twice. Their common abelianized class satisfies $2t=7t=0$, and again the group is perfect.

Consequently the projective symplectic group is simple, with the necessary exceptionsThe first two are the linear exceptions; the last is $S{p}_4(2)\cong S_6$, proved in 6(c). The word “projective” matters: the unquotiented symplectic group may have the nontrivial scalar center $\{I,-I\}$.

Let $X$ be a connected compact Riemann surface of geometric genus $g$, equivalently a smooth projective curve over $\mathbb{C}$, and put $V=H^0(X,K_X)$. Choose a symplectic basis $a_1,\dots ,a_g,b_1,\dots ,b_g$ of $H_1(X,\mathbb{Z})$ with $a_i\cdot b_j={\delta }_{ij}$. For a closed differential form $\alpha$, write $A_i(\alpha )={\int }_{a_i}\alpha$ and $B_i(\alpha )={\int }_{b_i}\alpha$. The underlying bilinear identity isIt holds for any two smooth closed one-forms. In particular, the Riemann bilinear relations for holomorphic differential forms arefor $\omega ,\eta \in V$ and $\omega \ne 0$ in the inequality. The inequality fixes the orientation and the sign convention.

To prove the identity, cut $X$ along the symplectic basis to a fundamental polygon $P$. On $P$, a closed one-form $\alpha$ has a primitive $F$. The Stokes theorem givesOpposite copies of each cut have opposite orientations, while their values of $F$ differ by the corresponding period of $\alpha$. Pairing those edges therefore leaves $A_i(\alpha ){\int }_{b_i}\beta -B_i(\alpha ){\int }_{a_i}\beta$ for the $i$th handle. Summing proves the identity. The same calculation can be made with a small disk about the polygon's vertices removed; its extra boundary terms tend to zero, so the vertices cause no additional term.

For holomorphic differential forms $\omega ,\eta$, their wedge product of differential forms vanishes: locally both are multiples of $dz$. This proves the first relation. If $\omega =f(z)dz$ and $z=x+iy$, thenA nonzero holomorphic differential form is nonzero on an open set, so the integral is strictly positive. Applying the identity to $\omega ,\overline{\omega }$ proves the second relation.