A set of proper subgroups is a covering for a group if its union is the whole group. The minimal number of subgroups needed to cover $G$ is called the covering number of $G$, denoted by $σ(G)$. Determining $σ(G)$ is an open problem for many non-solvable groups. For symmetric groups $S_n$, Maróti determined $σ(S_n)$ for odd $n$ with the exception of $n=9$ and gave estimates for $n$ even. In this paper we determine $σ(S_n)$ for $n = 8$, $9$, $10$ and $12$. In addition we find the covering number for the Mathieu group $M_{12}$ and improve an estimate given by Holmes for the Janko group $J_1$.
Let $G$ be a permutation group on a set $Ω$. A base for $G$ is a subset of $Ω$ whose pointwise stabiliser is trivial, and the base size of $G$ is the minimal cardinality of a base. If $G$ has base size $2$, then the corresponding Saxl graph $Σ(G)$ has vertex set $Ω$ and two vertices are adjacent if they form a base for $G$. A recent conjecture of Burness and Giudici states that if $G$ is a finite primitive permutation group with base size $2$, then $Σ(G)$ has the property that every two vertices have a common neighbour. We investigate this conjecture when $G$ is an affine group and a point sta…
Given a finite group $G$, we say that $G$ has weak normal covering number $γ_w(G)$ if $γ_w(G)$ is the smallest integer with $G$ admitting proper subgroups $H_1,\ldots,H_{γ_w(G)}$ such that each element of $G$ has a conjugate in $H_i$, for some $i\in \{1,\ldots,γ_w(G)\}$, via an element in the automorphism group of $G$. We prove that the weak normal covering number of every non-abelian simple group is at least $2$ and we classify the non-abelian simple groups attaining $2$. As an application, we classify the non-abelian simple groups having normal covering number $2$. We also show that the weak…
A subgroup of a finite group G is said to be second maximal if it is maximal in every maximal subgroup of G that contains it. A question which has received considerable attention asks: can every positive integer occur as the number of the maximal subgroups that contain a given second maximal subgroup in some finite group G? Various reduction arguments are available except when G is almost simple. Following the classification of the finite simple groups, finite almost simple groups fall into three categories: alternating and symmetric groups, almost simple groups of Lie type, sporadic groups an…
Given a finite group $G$ and a faithful irreducible $FG$-module $V$ where $F$ has prime order, does $G$ have a regular orbit on $V$? This problem is equivalent to determining which primitive permutation groups of affine type have a base of size 2. Let $G$ be a covering group of an almost simple group whose socle $T$ is sporadic, and let $V$ be a faithful irreducible $FG$-module where $F$ has prime order dividing $|G|$. We classify the pairs $(G,V)$ for which $G$ has no regular orbit on $V$, and determine the minimal base size of $G$ in its action on $V$. To obtain this classification, for each…
A primary covering of a finite group $G$ is a family of proper subgroups of $G$ whose union contains the set of elements of $G$ having order a prime power. We denote with $σ_0(G)$ the smallest size of a primary covering of $G$, and call it the primary covering number of $G$. We study this number and compare it with its analogous $σ(G)$, the covering number, for the classes of groups $G$ that are solvable and symmetric.
A \emph{finite cover} of a group $G$ is a finite collection $\mathcal{C}$ of proper subgroups of $G$ with the property that $\bigcup \mathcal{C} = G$. A finite group admits a finite cover if and only if it is noncyclic. More generally, it is known that a group admits a finite cover if and only if it has a finite, noncyclic homomorphic image. If $\mathcal{C}$ is a finite cover of a group $G$, and no cover of $G$ with fewer subgroups exists, then $\mathcal{C}$ is said to be a \emph{minimal cover} of $G$, and the cardinality of $\mathcal{C}$ is called the \emph{covering number} of $G$, denoted by…
The normal covering number $γ(G)$ of a finite, non-cyclic group $G$ is the minimum number of proper subgroups such that each element of $G$ lies in some conjugate of one of these subgroups. We find lower bounds linear in $n$ for $γ(S_n)$, when $n$ is even, and for $γ(A_n)$, when $n$ is odd.
The strong symmetric genus of a group is the smallest genus of a surface on which the group acts faithfully as a group of orientation preserving automorphisms. In this paper we announce and prove the strong symmetric genus for the hyperoctahedral groups. This parameter is already known for the alternating and symmetric groups as well as the sporadic finite simple groups.
If a group $G$ is the union of proper subgroups $H_1, \dots, H_k$, we say that the collection $\{H_1, \dots H_k \}$ is a cover of $G$, and the size of a minimal cover (supposing one exists) is the covering number of $G$, denoted $σ(G)$. Maróti showed that $σ(S_n) = 2^{n-1}$ for $n$ odd and sufficiently large, and he also gave asymptotic bounds for $n$ even. In this paper, we determine the exact value of $σ(S_n)$ when $n$ is divisible by $6$.
The normal covering number $γ(G)$ of a finite, non-cyclic group $G$ is the least number of proper subgroups such that each element of $G$ lies in some conjugate of one of these subgroups. We prove that there is a positive constant $c$ such that, for $G$ a symmetric group $\Sym(n)$ or an alternating group $\Alt(n)$, $γ(G)\geq cn$. This improves results of the first two authors who had earlier proved that $aφ(n)\leqγ(G)\leq 2n/3,$ for some positive constant $a$, where $φ$ is the Euler totient function. Bounds are also obtained for the maximum size $κ(G)$ of a set $X$ of conjugacy classes of $G=\…
In this paper we investigate the minimum number of maximal subgroups H_i for i=1 ...k of the symmetric group S_n (or the alternating group A_n) such that each element in the group S_n (respectively A_n) lies in some conjugate of one of the H_i. We prove that this number lies between a.phi(n) and bn for certain constants a, b, where phi(n) is the Euler phi-function, and we show that the number depends on the arithmetical complexity of n. Moreover in the case where n is divisible by at most two primes, we obtain an upper bound of 2+phi(n)/2, and we determine the exact value for S_n when n is odd…
Given a group $G$ and a subgroup $H$, we let $\mathcal{O}_G(H)$ denote the lattice of subgroups of $G$ containing $H$. This paper provides a classification of the subgroups $H$ of $G$ such that $\mathcal{O}_{G}(H)$ is Boolean of rank at least $3$, when $G$ is a finite alternating or symmetric group. Besides some sporadic examples and some twisted versions, there are two different types of such lattices. One type arises by taking stabilizers of chains of regular partitions, and the other type arises by taking stabilizers of chains of regular product structures. As an application, we prove in th…
In an attempt to get some information on the multiplicative structure of the Green ring we study algebraic modules for simple groups, and associated groups such as quasisimple and almost-simple groups. We prove that, for almost all groups of Lie type in defining characteristic, the natural module is non-algebraic. For alternating and symmetric groups, we prove that the simple modules in $p$-blocks with defect groups of order $p^2$ are algebraic, for $p\leq 5$. Finally, we analyze nine sporadic groups, finding that all simple modules are algebraic for various primes and sporadic groups
A biextraspecial group of rank $m$ is an extension of a special 2-group $Q$ of the form $2^{2 + 2m}$ by $L\cong L_2(2)$, such that the 3-element from $L$ acts on $Q$ fixed-point-freely. Subgroups of this type appear in at least the sporadic groups $J_2$, $J_3$, $McL$, $Suz$, and $Co_1$. In this paper we completely classify biextraspecial groups, namely, we show that the rank $m$ must be even and for each such $m$ there exist exactly two biextraspecial groups $B^\varepsilon(m)$ up to isomorphism where $\varepsilon\in{+,-}$. We also prove that $\Out(B^\varepsilon(m))$ is an extension of the $m$-…
Let $γ(S_n)$ be the minimum number of proper subgroups $H_i$ of the symmetric group $S_n$ such that each element in $S_n$ lies in some conjugate of one of the $H_i.$ In this paper we conjecture that $$γ(S_n)=\frac{n}{2}\left(1-\frac{1}{p_1}\right) \left(1-\frac{1}{p_2}\right)+2,$$ where $p_1,p_2$ are the two smallest primes in the factorization of $n$ and $n$ is neither a prime power nor a product of two primes. Support for the conjecture is given by a previous result for $n=p_1^{α_1}p_2^{α_2},$ with $(α_1,α_2)\neq (1,1)$. We give further evidence by confirming the conjecture for integers of t…
In this paper, following the methods of http://arxiv.org/abs/1305.7449v2, we show that the double covering groups of the symmetric and alternating groups have p-basic sets for any odd prime p.
The covering number of a finite group $G$, denoted $σ(G)$, is the smallest positive integer $k$ such that $G$ is a union of $k$ proper subgroups. We calculate $σ(G)$ for a family of primitive groups $G$ with a unique minimal normal subgroup $N$, isomorphic to $A_n^m$ with $n$ divisible by $6$ and $G/N$ cyclic. This is a generalization of a result of E. Swartz concerning the symmetric groups. We also prove an asymptotic result concerning pairwise generation.
We exhibit a new presentation of the (equilateral) Von Dyck groups $D(2,3,n), \ n\ge 3$, in terms of two generators of order $n$ satisfying three relations, one of which is Artin's braid relation. By dropping the relation which fixes the order of the generators we obtain the universal covering groups of the corresponding Von Dyck groups. In the cases $n=3,\, 4,\,5$, these are respectively the double covers of the finite rotational tetrahedral, octahedral and icosahedral groups. When $n\ge 6$ we obtain infinite covers of the corresponding infinite Von Dyck groups. The interesting cases arise fo…
Many groups possess highly symmetric generating sets that are naturally endowed with an underlying combinatorial structure. Such generating sets can prove to be extremely useful both theoretically in providing new existence proofs for groups and practically by providing succinct means of representing group elements. We give a survey of results obtained in the study of these symmetric generating sets. In keeping with earlier surveys on this matter, we emphasize the sporadic simple groups. ADDENDUM: This is an updated version of a survey article originally accepted for inclusion in the proceedin…
Let G be a finite group and let M be a G-manifold. We introduce the concept of generalized orbifold invariants of M/G associated to an arbitrary group Gamma, an arbitrary Gamma-set, and an arbitrary covering space of a connected manifold Sigma whose fundamental group is Gamma. Our orbifold invariants have a natural and simple geometric origin in the context of locally constant G-equivariant maps from G-principal bundles over covering spaces of Sigma to the G-manifold M. We calculate generating functions of orbifold Euler characteristic of symmetric products of orbifolds associated to arbitrary…
We give a group-theoretic description of the parity of a pull-back of a theta characteristic under a branched covering. It involves lifting monodromy of the covering to the semidirect product of the symmetric and Clifford groups, known as the Sergeev group. As an application, we enumerate torus coverings with respect to their ramification and parity and, in particular, show that the corresponding all-degree generating functions are quasimodular forms.
Axial algebras are a class of commutative non-associative algebras generated by idempotents, called axes, with adjoint action semi-simple and satisfying a prescribed fusion law. Axial algebras were introduced by Hall, Rehren and Shpectorov \cite{hrs,hrs1} as a broad generalisation of Majorana algebras of Ivanov, whose axioms were derived from the properties of the Griess algebra for the Monster sporadic simple group. The class of axial algebras of Monster type includes Majorana algebras for the Monster and many other sporadic simple groups, Jordan algebras for classical and some exceptional si…
We address the question of when a covering of the boundary of a surface can be extended to a covering of the surface (equivalently: when is there a branched cover with a prescribed monodromy). If such an extension is possible, when can the total space be taken to be connected? When can the extension be taken to be regular? We give necessary and sufficient conditions for both finite and infinite covers (infinite covers are our main focus). In order to prove our results, we show group-theoretic results of independent interests, such as the following extension (and simplification) of the theorem …
Given an irreducible bivariate polynomial $f(t,x)\in \mathbb{Q}[t,x]$, what groups $H$ appear as the Galois group of $f(t_0,x)$ for infinitely many $t_0\in \mathbb{Q}$? How often does a group $H$ as above appear as the Galois group of $f(t_0,x)$, $t_0\in \mathbb{Q}$? We give an answer for $f$ of large $x$-degree with alternating or symmetric Galois group over $\mathbb{Q}(t)$. This is done by determining the low genus subcovers of coverings $\tilde{X}\rightarrow \mathbb{P}^1_{\mathbb{C}}$ with alternating or symmetric monodromy groups.
Given a finite group $G$ and a faithful irreducible $FG$-module $V$ where $F$ has prime order, does $G$ have a regular orbit on $V$? This problem is equivalent to determining which primitive permutation groups of affine type have a base of size 2. In this paper, we classify the pairs $(G,V)$ for which $G$ has a regular orbit on $V$ where $G$ is a covering group of a symmetric or alternating group and $V$ is a faithful irreducible $FG$-module such that the order of $F$ is prime and divides the order of $G$.
In representation theory of finite groups an important role is played by irreducible characters of p-defect 0, for a prime p dividing the group order. These are exactly those vanishing at the p-singular elements. In this paper we generalize this notion investigating the irreducible characters that are constant at the p-singular elements. We determine all such characters of non-zero defect for alternating, symmetric and sporadic simple groups. We also classify the irreducible characters of quasi-simple groups of Lie type that are constant on the non-identity unipotent elements. In particular, w…
