The author classifies all reduced, indecomposable fusion systems over finite $2$-groups of sectional rank at most $4$. The resulting list is very similar to that by Gorenstein and Harada of all simple groups of sectional $2$-rank at most $4$. But this method of proof is very different from theirs, and is based on an analysis of the essential subgroups which can occur in the fusion systems.
Bob Oliver, LAGA, Institut Galilee, Universite Paris, Villetaneuse, France.
IntroductionBackground on fusion systemsNormal dihedral and quaternion subgroupsEssential subgroups in $2$-groups of sectional rank at most $4$Fusion systems over $2$-groups of type $G_2(q)$Dihedral and semidihedral wreath productsFusion systems over extensions of $UT_3(4)$Appendix A. Background results about groupsAppendix B. Subgroups of $2$-groups of sectional rank $4$Appendix C. Some explicit $2$-groups of sectional rank $4$Appendix D. Actions on $2$-groups of sectional rank at most $4$Bibliography