The complete classification of the finite simple groups that are $(2,3)$-generated is a problem which is still open only for orthogonal groups. Here, we construct $(2, 3)$-generators for the finite odd-dimensional orthogonal groups $\Omega _{2k+1}(q)$, $k\geq 4$. As a byproduct, we also obtain $(2,3)$-generators for $\Omega _{4k}^+(q)$ with $k\geq 3$ and q odd, and for $\Omega _{4k+2}^\pm (q)$ with $k\geq 4$ and $q\equiv \pm 1~ \mathrm {(mod~ 4)}$.

Using triality, we define a relative Arason invariant for orthogonal involutions on a -possibly division- central simple algebra of degree 8. This invariant detects hyperbolicity, but it does not detect isomorphism. We produce explicit examples, in index 4 and 8, of non isomorphic involutions with trivial relative Arason invariant.

We derive lower bounds for the rank of Picard groups of modular varieties associated with natural congruence subgroups of the orthogonal group of an even lattice of signature (2, l). As an example we consider the Siegel modular group of genus 2. The analytic part of this paper also leads to certain class number identities.

Suppose that V is a finite dimensional vector space over a finite field of characteristic 2, G is the symplectic group on V and a is a non-zero vector of V. Here we classify irreducible subgroups of G containing a certain subgroup of O2(StabG(a)) all of whose non-trivial elements are 2-transvections.