Let $f(x)$ be a non-zero polynomial with integer coefficients. An automorphism $φ$ of a group $G$ is said to satisfy the elementary abelian identity $f(x)$ if the linear transformation induced by $φ$ on every characteristic elementary abelian section $S$ of $G$ is annihilated by $f(x)$. We prove that if a finite (soluble) group $G$ admits a fixed-point-free automorphism $φ$ satisfying an elementary abelian identity $f(x)$, where $f(x)$ is a primitive polynomial, then the Fitting height of $G$ is bounded in terms of $\operatorname{deg}(f(x))$. We also prove that if $f(x)$ is any non-zero polynomial and $G$ is a $σ'$-group for a finite set of primes $σ=σ(f(x))$ depending only on $f(x)$, then the Fitting height of $G$ is bounded in terms of the number $\operatorname{irr}(f(x))$ of irreducible factors in the decomposition of $f(x)$. These bounds for the Fitting height are stronger than the well-known bounds in terms of the composition length $α(|φ|)$ of $\langleφ\rangle$ when $\operatorname{deg} (f(x))$ or $\operatorname{irr}(f(x))$ is small in comparison with $α(|φ|)$.
In this paper we are concerned with finite soluble groups $G$ admitting a factorisation $G=AB$, with $A$ and $B$ proper subgroups having coprime order. We are interested in bounding the Fitting height of $G$ in terms of some group-invariants of $A$ and $B$: including the Fitting heights and the derived lengths.
Assume that a finite group $G$ admits a Frobenius group of automorphisms $FH$ with kernel $F$ and complement $H$ such that $C_{G}(F)=1$. In this paper, we investigate this situation and prove that if $C_G(H)$ is supersoluble and $C_{G'}(H)$ is nilpotent, then $G$ is supersoluble. Also, we show that $G$ is a Sylow tower group of a certain type if $C_{G}(H)$ is a Sylow tower group of the same type.
Let $G$ be a finite group admitting a coprime automorphism $ϕ$ of order $n$. Denote by $G_ϕ$ the centralizer of $ϕ$ in $G$ and by $G_{-ϕ}$ the set $\{ x^{-1}x^ϕ; \ x\in G\}$. We prove the following results. 1. If every element from $G_ϕ\cup G_{-ϕ}$ is contained in a $ϕ$-invariant subgroup of exponent dividing $e$, then the exponent of $G$ is $(e,n)$-bounded. 2. Suppose that $G_ϕ$ is nilpotent of class $c$. If $x^{e}=1$ for each $x \in G_{-ϕ}$ and any two elements of $G_{-ϕ}$ are contained in a $ϕ$-invariant soluble subgroup of derived length $d$, then the exponent of $[G,ϕ]$ is bounded in term…
Let $A$ be a group isomorphic with either $S_4$, the symmetric group on four symbols, or $D_8$, the dihedral group of order 8. Let $V$ be a normal four-subgroup of $A$ and $α$ an involution in $A\setminus V$. Suppose that $A$ acts on a finite group $G$ in such a manner that $C_G(V)=1$ and $C_G(α)$ has exponent $e$. We show that if $A\cong S_4$ then the exponent of $G$ is $e$-bounded and if $A\cong D_8$ then the exponent of the derived group $G'$ is $e$-bounded. This work was motivated by recent results on the exponent of a finite group admitting an action by a Frobenius group of automorphisms.
It is known that a finite group with an automorphism $φ$ of coprime order has a soluble radical of $(|φ|,|C_G(φ)|)$-bounded Fitting height and index. We extend this classic result as follows. Let $f(x) = a_0 + a_1 \cdot x + \cdots + a_d \cdot x^d \in \mathbb{Z}[x]$ be a primitive polynomial and let $G$ be a finite group with an automorphism $φ$ of coprime order satisfying $ g^{a_0} \cdot φ(g)^{a_1} \cdots φ^d(g)^{a_d} = 1 $, for all $g \in G$. Then the soluble radical of $G$ has $(d,|C_G(φ)|)$-boundex Fitting height and index. The bounds are made explicit and are particularly good for small va…
In this paper, we present a classification of $2$-designs with $\gcd(r,λ)=1$ admitting flag-transitive automorphism groups. If $G$ is a flag-transitive automorphism group of a non-trivial $2$-design $\mathcal{D}$ with $\gcd(r,λ)=1$, then either $(\mathcal{D},G)$ is one of the known examples described in this paper, or $\mathcal{D}$ has $q = p^{d}$ points with $p$ prime and $G$ is a subgroup of $AΓL_{1}(q)$.
We show that a finite group $G$ admitting an automorphism $α$ such that the function $G\rightarrow G$, $g\mapsto gα(g)$, is bijective is necessarily solvable.
We show that several classes of groups G of PL-homeomorphisms of the real line admit non-trivial homomorphisms from G to the additive group of reals that are fixed by every automorphism of G. The classes of groups enjoying the stated property include the generalisations of Thompson's group F studied by K. S. Brown, M. Stein, S. Cleary, and Bieri-Strebel but also the class of groups investigated by Bieri-Neumann-Strebel in [BNS87, Theorem 8.1]. It follows that every automorphism of a group in one of these classes has infinitely many associated twisted conjugacy classes.
Motivated by classic theorems of Thompson and Berger on the Fitting height of finite groups with a fixed-point-free automorphism of coprime order, we conjecture that, for every non-zero polynomial $f(x) = a_0 + a_1 x + \cdots + a_d x^d \in \mathbb{Z}[x] $, there is an integer $k > 0$ with the following property. Let $G$ be a finite (solvable) group with a fixed-point-free automorphism $α$ satisfying $\gcd(|G|,k)= 1$ and $$\{ g^{a_0} \cdot α(g)^{a_1} \cdot α^2(g)^{a_2} \cdots α^d(g)^{a_d} | g \in G \} = \{1\}.$$ Then the Fitting height of $G$ is at most the number of irreducible factors of $f(x…
We introduce the concept of a double automorphism of an A-graded Lie algebra L. Roughly, this is an automorphism of L which also induces an automorphism of the group A. It is clear that the set of all double automorphisms of L forms a subgroup in Aut(L). In the present paper we prove several nilpotency criteria for a graded Lie algebra admitting a finite group of double automorphisms. We also give an application of our results to groups admitting a Frobenius group of automorphisms.
We consider left-invariant distances $d$ on a Lie group $G$ with the property that there exists a multiplicative one-parameter group of Lie automorphisms $(0, \infty)\rightarrow\mathtt{Aut}(G)$, $λ\mapstoδ_λ$, so that $ d(δ_λx,δ_λy) = λd(x,y)$, for all $x,y\in G$ and all $λ>0$. First, we show that all such distances are admissible, that is, they induce the manifold topology. Second, we characterize multiplicative one-parameter groups of Lie automorphisms that are dilations for some left-invariant distance in terms of algebraic properties of their infinitesimal generator. Third, we show that an…
An automorphism of a graph is called quasi-semiregular if it fixes a unique vertex of the graph and its remaining cycles have the same length. This kind of symmetry of graphs was first investigated by Kutnar, Malnič, Martínez and Marušič in 2013, as a generalization of the well-known semiregular automorphism of a graph. Symmetric graphs of valency three or four, admitting a quasi-semiregular automorphism, have been classified in recent two papers. Let $p\geq 5$ be a prime and $Γ$ a connected symmetric graph of valency $p$ admitting a quasi-semiregular automorphism. In this paper, we first prov…
We prove a strengthening of Brauer's height zero conjecture for principal 2-blocks with Galois automorphisms. This requires a new extension of the Itô--Michler theorem for the prime~2, again with Galois automorphisms. We close, this time for odd primes $p$, with a new characterisation of $p$-closed groups via the decomposition numbers of certain characters.
In this article, we study $2$-designs with prime replication number admitting a flag-transitive automorphism group. The automorphism groups of these designs are point-primitive of almost simple or affine type. We determine $2$-designs with prime replication number admitting an almost simple automorphism group.
For a group G with trivial center there is a natural embedding of G into its automorphism group, so we can look at the latter as an extension of the group. So an increasing continuous sequence of groups, the automorphism tower, is defined, the height is the ordinal where this becomes fixed, arriving to a complete group. We first show that for any kappa=kappa^{aleph_0} there is a group of cardinality kappa with height>kappa^+ (improving the lower bound). Second we show that for many such kappa there is a group of height > 2^kappa, so proving that the upper bound essentially cannot be improved.
We prove that there are groups in the constructible universe whose automorphism towers are highly malleable by forcing. This is a consequence of the fact that, under a suitable diamond hypothesis, there are sufficiently many highly rigid non-isomorphic Souslin trees whose isomorphism relation can be precisely controlled by forcing.
Let $G$ be a finite group admitting a coprime automorphism $α$. Let $J_G(α)$ denote the set of all commutators $[x,α]$, where $x$ belongs to an $α$-invariant Sylow subgroup of $G$. We show that $[G,α]$ is soluble or nilpotent if and only if any subgroup generated by a pair of elements of coprime orders from the set $J_G(α)$ is soluble or nilpotent, respectively.
We prove that numerous negatively curved simply connected locally compact polyhedral complexes, admitting a discrete cocompact group of automorphisms, have automorphism groups which are locally compact, uncountable, non linear and virtually simple. Examples include hyperbolic buildings, Cayley graphs of word hyperbolic Coxeter systems, and generalizations of cubical complexes, that we call even polyhedral complexes. We use tools introduced by Tits in the case of automorphism groups of trees, and Davis-Moussong's geometric realisation of Coxeter systems.
A connected Lie group admitting an expansive automorphism is known to be nilpotent, but all nilpotent Lie groups do not admit expansive automorphism. In this article, we find sufficient conditions for a class of nilpotent Lie groups to admit expansive automorphism.
It is proved that if a finite $p$-soluble group $G$ admits an automorphism $φ$ of order $p^n$ having at most $m$ fixed points on every $φ$-invariant elementary abelian $p'$-section of $G$, then the $p$-length of $G$ is bounded above in terms of $p^n$ and $m$; if in addition the group $G$ is soluble, then the Fitting height of $G$ is bounded above in terms of $p^n$ and $m$. It is also proved that if a finite soluble group $G$ admits an automorphism $ψ$ of order $p^aq^b$ for some primes $p,q$, then the Fitting height of $G$ is bounded above in terms of $|ψ|$ and $|C_G(ψ)|$.
Baumslag conjectured in the 1970s that the automorphism tower of a finitely generated free nilpotent group must be very short. Let F_{n,c} denote a free nilpotent group of finite rank n at least two and of nilpotency class c at least two. In 1976 Dyer and Formanek proved that the automorphism group of F_{n,2} is even complete (and hence the height of the aumorphism tower of F_{n,2} is two) provided that n is not three; in the case when n=3, the height of the automorphism tower of F_{n,2} is three. The author proved in 2001 that the automorphism group of any infinitely generated free nilpotent …
Let $α$ be a coprime automorphism of a group $G$ of prime order and let $P$ be an $α$-invariant Sylow $p$-subgroup of $G$. Assume that $p\notin π(C_G(α))$. Firstly, we prove that $G$ is $p$-nilpotent if and only if $C_{N_G(P)}(α)$ centralizes $P$. In the case that $G$ is $Sz(2^r)$ and $PSL(2,2^r)$-free where $r=|α|$, we show that $G$ is $p$-closed if and only if $C_G(α)$ normalizes $P$. As a consequences of these two results, we obtain that $G\cong P\times H$ for a group $H$ if and only if $C_G(α)$ centralizes $P$. We also prove a generalization of the Frobenius $p$-nilpotency theorem for grou…
Studying algorithms admitting nontrivial symmetries is a prospective way of constructing new short algorithms of matrix multiplication. The main result of the article is that if there exists an algorithm of multiplicative length $l\leq22$ for multuplication of $3\times3$ matrices then its automorphism group is isomorphic to a subgroup of $S_l\times S_3$.
We prove that the group of outer automorphisms of the free Coxeter group $W_n$ is acylindrically hyperbolic in the sense of Osin. As an application, we observe that any CAT(0) space admitting a geometric action by Out($W_n$) must contain a rank-one geodesic. The theorem proceeds from expanding on a well-known relationship between Out($W_n$) and the outer automorphism group of free groups.
Let $G$ be a finite group of odd order admitting an involutory automorphism $ϕ$. We obtain two results bounding the exponent of $[G,ϕ]$. Denote by $G_{-ϕ}$ the set $\{[g,ϕ]\,\vert\, g\in G\}$ and by $G_ϕ$ the centralizer of $ϕ$, that is, the subgroup of fixed points of $ϕ$. The obtained results are as follows.1. Assume that the subgroup $\langle x,y\rangle$ has derived length at most $d$ and $x^e=1$ for every $x,y\in G_{-ϕ}$. Suppose that $G_ϕ$ is nilpotent of class $c$. Then the exponent of $[G,ϕ]$ is $(c,d,e)$-bounded.2. Assume that $G_ϕ$ has rank $r$ and $x^e=1$ for each $x\in G_{-ϕ}$. Then…
We classify possible finite groups of symplectic automorphisms of K3 surfaces of order divisible by 11. The characteristic of the ground field must be equal to 11. The complete list of such groups consists of five groups: the cyclic group of order 11, $11\rtimes 5$, $L_2(11)$ and the Mathieu groups $M_{11}$, $M_{22}$. We also show that a surface $X$ admitting an automorphism $g$ of order 11 admits a $g$-invariant elliptic fibration with the Jacobian fibration isomorphic to one of explicitly given elliptic K3 surfaces.
Let $G$ be a finite group admitting a coprime automorphism $α$ of order $e$. Denote by $I_G(α)$ the set of commutators $g^{-1}g^α$, where $g\in G$, and by $[G,α]$ the subgroup generated by $I_G(α)$. We study the impact of $I_G(α)$ on the structure of $[G,α]$. Suppose that each subgroup generated by a subset of $I_G(α)$ can be generated by at most $r$ elements. We show that the rank of $[G,α]$ is $(e,r)$-bounded. Along the way, we establish several results of independent interest. In particular, we prove that if every element of $I_G(α)$ has odd order, then $[G,α]$ has odd order too. Further, i…
Given a group $G$, an {\em $m$-Cayley digraph $\G$ over $G$} is a digraph that has a group of automorphisms isomorphic to $G$ acting semiregularly on the vertex set with $m$ orbits. We say that $G$ admits an {\em oriented $m$-semiregular representation} (O$m$SR for short), if there exists a regular $m$-Cayley digraph $\G$ over $G$ such that $\G$ is oriented and its automorphism group is isomorphic to $G$. In particular, O$1$SR is also named as ORR. Verret and Xia gave a classification of finite simple groups admitting an ORR of valency two in [Ars Math. Contemp. 22 (2022), \#P1.07]. Let $m\geq…
In this thesis I study the automorphism tower of free nilpotent groups. Our main tool in studying the automorphism tower is to embed every group as a lattice in some Lie group. Using known rigidity results the automorphism group of the discrete group can be embedded into the automorphism group of the Lie group. This allows me to lift the description of the derivation tower of the free nilpotent Lie algebra to obtain information about the automorphism tower of the free nilpotent group. The main result in this thesis states that the automorphism tower of the free nilpotent group $Γ(n,d)$ on $n$ …
We complete the study of finite and profinite groups admitting an action by an elementary abelian group under which the centralizers of automorphisms consist of Engel elements. In particular, we prove the following theorems. Let $q$ be a prime and $A$ an elementary abelian $q$-group of order at least $q^2$ acting coprimely on a profinite group $G$. Assume that all elements in $C_{G}(a)$ are Engel in $G$ for each $a\in A^{\#}$. Then $G$ is locally nilpotent (Theorem B2). Let $q$ be a prime, $n$ a positive integer and $A$ an elementary abelian group of order $q^3$ acting coprimely on a finite gr…
A graph Γis said to be {\em symmetric} if its automorphism group \Aut(Γ) is transitive on the arc set of Γ. Let $G$ be a finite non-abelian simple group and let Γbe a connected pentavalent symmetric graph such that G\leq \Aut(Γ). In this paper, we show that if $G$ is transitive on the vertex set of Γ, then either G\unlhd \Aut(Γ) or \Aut(Γ) contains a non-abelian simple normal subgroup $T$ such that $G\leq T$ and $(G,T)$ is one of $58$ possible pairs of non-abelian simple groups. In particular, if $G$ is arc-transitive, then $(G,T)$ is one of $17$ possible pairs, and if $G$ is regular on the ve…
We classify finite-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebras with $2$-dimensional central commutator ideals admitting a Lie group of automorphisms isomorphic to $SO_2(\mathbb R)$. This enables one to enlarge the class of nilpotent Lie algebras of type {n,2}.
We prove two conjectures of E. Khukhro and P. Shumyatsky concerning the Fitting height and insoluble length of finite groups. As a by-product of our methods, we also prove a generalization of a result of Flavell, which itself generalizes Wielandt's Zipper Lemma and provides a characterization of subgroups contained in a unique maximal subgroup. We also derive a number of consequences of our theorems, including some applications to the set of odd order elements of a finite group inverted by an involutory automorphism.
Let G be a totally disconnected, locally compact group admitting a contractive automorphism f. We prove a Jordan-Holder theorem for series of f-stable closed subgroups of G, classify all possible composition factors and deduce consequences for the structure of G.
In this note, we give a precise construction of one of the families of $2$-designs arose from studying flag-transitive $2$-designs with parameters $(v,k,λ)$ whose replication numbers $r$ are coprime to $λ$. We show that for a given positive integer $q=2^{2n+1}\geq 8$, there exists a $2$-design with parameters $(q^{2}+1,q,q-1)$ and the replication number $q^{2}$ admitting the Suzuki group $\textsf{Sz(q)}$ as its automorphism group. We also construct a family of $2$-designs with parameters $(q^{2}+1,q(q-1),(q-1)(q^{2}-q-1))$ and the replication number $q^{2}(q-1)$ admitting the Suzuki groups $\t…
An exceptional point in the moduli space of compact Riemann surfaces is a unique surface class whose full automorphism group acts with a triangular signature. A surface admitting a conformal involution with quotient an elliptic curve is called elliptic-hyperelliptic; one admitting an anticonformal involution is called symmetric. In this paper, we determine, up to topological conjugacy, the full group of conformal and anticonformal automorphisms of a symmetric exceptional point in the elliptic-hyperelliptic locus. We determine the number of ovals of any symmetry of such a surface. We show that …
We show that any connected locally compact group which admits an expansive automorphism is nilpotent. We also show that for any locally compact group $G$, $α\in {\rm Aut}(G)$ is expansive if and only if for any $α$-invariant closed subgroup $H$ which is either compact or normal, the restriction of $α$ to $H$ is expansive and the quotient map on $G/H$ corresponding to $α$ is expansive. We get a structure theorem for locally compact groups admitting expansive automorphisms. We prove that an automorphism on a non-discrete locally compact group can not be both distal and expansive.
In this article, we investigate $2$-$(v,k,λ)$ designs with $\gcd(r,λ)=1$ admitting flag-transitive automorphism groups $G$. We prove that if $G$ is an almost simple group, then such a design belongs to one of the seven infinite families of $2$-designs or it is one of the eleven well-known examples. We describe all these examples of designs. We, in particular, prove that if $\mathcal{D}$ is a symmetric $(v,k,λ)$ design with $\gcd(k,λ)=1$ admitting a flag-transitive automorphism group $G$, then either $G\leq AΓL_{1}(q)$ for some odd prime power $q$, or $\mathcal{D}$ is a projective space or the …
Generalising an example by Girondo and Wolfart, we use finite group theory to construct Riemann surfaces admitting two or more regular dessins (i.e. orientably regular hypermaps) with automorphism groups of the same order, and in many cases with isomorphic automorphism groups.
