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Cheryl E. Praeger

Publications and source records attributed to Cheryl E. Praeger.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
arXiv2015

Some infinite permutation groups and related finite linear groups

This article began as a study of the structure of infinite permutation groups G in which point stabilisers are finite and all infinite normal subgroups are transitive. That led to two variations. One is the generalisation in which point stabilisers are merely assumed to satisfy min-N, the minimal condition on normal subgroups. The groups G are then of two kinds. Either they have a maximal finite normal subgroup, modulo which they have either one or two minimal non-trivial normal subgroups, or they have a regular normal subgroup M which is a divisible abelian p-group of finite rank. In the latter case the point stabilisers are finite and act irreducibly on a p-adic vector space associated with M. This leads to our second variation, which is a study of the finite linear groups that can arise.

math.GR↗
arXiv2015

Increasing the minimum distance of codes by twisting

Twisted permutation codes, introduced recently by the second and third authors, are frequency permutation arrays. They are similar to repetition permutation codes, in that they are obtained by a repetition construction applied to a smaller code. It was previously shown that the minimum distance of a twisted permutation code is at least the minimum distance of a corresponding repetition permutation code, but in some instances can be larger. We construct two new infinite families of twisted permutation codes with minimum distances strictly greater than those for the corresponding repetition permutation codes.

math.CO↗
arXiv2015

Conway groupoids, regular two-graphs and supersimple designs

A $2-(n,4,λ)$ design $(Ω, \mathcal{B})$ is said to be supersimple if distinct lines intersect in at most two points. From such a design, one can construct a certain subset of Sym$(Ω)$ called a "Conway groupoid". The construction generalizes Conway's construction of the groupoid $M_{13}$. It turns out that several infinite families of groupoids arise in this way, some associated with 3-transposition groups, which have two additional properties. Firstly the set of collinear point-triples forms a regular two-graph, and secondly the symmetric difference of two intersecting lines is again a line. In this paper, we show each of these properties corresponds to a group-theoretic property on the groupoid and we classify the Conway groupoids and the supersimple designs for which both of these two additional properties hold.

math.GR↗
arXiv2015

Decomposing modular tensor products, and periodicity of `Jordan partitions'

Let $J_r$ denote an $r\times r$ matrix over a finite field $F$ with minimal and characteristic polynomials $(t-1)^r$. Suppose $r\leq s$. It is not hard to show that the Jordan canonical form of $J_r\otimes J_s$ is similar to $J_{λ_1}\oplus\cdots\oplus J_{λ_r}$ where $λ_1\geq\cdots\geqλ_r>0$ and $\sum_{i=1}^rλ_i=rs$. The partition $λ(r,s,p):=(λ_1,\dots,λ_r)$ of $rs$, which depends only on $r,s$ and the characteristic $p$ of $F$, has many applications including to the study of algebraic groups. We prove new periodicity and duality results for $λ(r,s,p)$ that depend on the smallest $p$-power exceeding $r$. This generalizes results of J. A. Green, B. Srinivasan, and others which depend on the smallest $p$-power exceeding the (potentially large) integer $s$. We show that for fixed $r$ we can construct a finite table allowing the computation of $λ(r,s,p)$ for all $s$ with $s\geq r$, and all primes $p$. This generalizes work of K-i. Iima and R. Iwamatsu.

math.AC↗
arXiv2015

Finite edge-transitive oriented graphs of valency four: a global approach

We develop a new framework for analysing finite connected, oriented graphs of valency 4, which admit a vertex-transitive and edge-transitive group of automorphisms preserving the edge orientation. We identify a sub-family of "basic" graphs such that each graph of this type is a normal cover of at least one basic graph. The basic graphs either admit an edge-transitive group of automorphisms that is quasiprimitive or biquasiprimitive on vertices, or admit an (oriented or unoriented) cycle as a normal quotient. We anticipate that each of these additional properties will facilitate effective further analysis, and we demonstrate that this is so for the quasiprimitive basic graphs. Here we obtain strong restirictions on the group involved, and construct several infinite families of such graphs which, to our knowledge, are different from any recorded in the literature so far. Several open problems are posed in the paper.

math.CO↗
arXiv2015

Inclusions of innately transitive groups into wreath products in product action with applications to $2$-arc-transitive graphs

We study $(G,2)$-arc-transitive graphs for innately transitive permutation groups $G$ such that $G$ can be embedded into a wreath product $\symΓ\wr\sy\ell$ acting in product action on $Γ^\ell$. We find two such connected graphs: the first is Sylvester's double six graph with 36 vertices, while the second is a graph with $120^2$ vertices whose automorphism group is $\aut\sp 44$. We prove that under certain conditions no more such graphs exist.

math.GR↗
arXiv2015

Identifying long cycles in finite alternating and symmetric groups acting on subsets

Let $H$ be a permutation group on a set $Λ$, which is permutationally isomorphic to a finite alternating or symmetric group $A_n$ or $S_n$ acting on the $k$-element subsets of points from $\{1,\ldots,n\}$, for some arbitrary but fixed $k$. Suppose moreover that no isomorphism with this action is known. We show that key elements of $H$ needed to construct such an isomorphism $φ$, such as those whose image under $φ$ is an $n$-cycle or $(n-1)$-cycle, can be recognised with high probability by the lengths of just four of their cycles in $Λ$.

math.GR↗
arXiv2015

Finite 2-geodesic transitive graphs of prime valency

We classify non-complete prime valency graphs satisfying the property that their automorphism group is transitive on both the set of arcs and the set of $2$-geodesics. We prove that either $Γ$ is 2-arc transitive or the valency $p$ satisfies $p\equiv 1\pmod 4$, and for each such prime there is a unique graph with this property: it is a non-bipartite antipodal double cover of the complete graph $K_{p+1}$ with automorphism group $PSL(2,p)\times Z_2$ and diameter 3.

math.CO↗
arXiv2015

Constructing flag-transitive, point-imprimitive designs

We give a construction of a family of designs with a specified point-partition, and determine the subgroup of automorphisms leaving invariant the point-partition. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for a design in the family to possess a flag-transitive group of automorphisms preserving the specified point-partition. We give examples of flag-transitive designs in the family, including a new symmetric $2$-$(1408,336,80)$ design with automorphism group $2^{12}:((3\cdot\mathrm{M}_{22}):2)$, and a construction of one of the families of the symplectic designs (the designs $S^-(n)$) exhibiting a flag-transitive, point-imprimitive automorphism group.

math.CO↗
arXiv2015

Pairwise transitive 2-designs

We classify the pairwise transitive 2-designs, that is, 2-designs such that a group of automorphisms is transitive on the following five sets of ordered pairs: point-pairs, incident point-block pairs, non-incident point-block pairs, intersecting block-pairs and non-intersecting block-pairs. These 2-designs fall into two classes: the symmetric ones and the quasisymmetric ones. The symmetric examples include the symmetric designs from projective geometry, the 11-point biplane, the Higman-Sims design, and designs of points and quadratic forms on symplectic spaces. The quasisymmetric examples arise from affine geometry and the point-line geometry of projective spaces, as well as several sporadic examples.

math.CO↗
arXiv2014

Entry-Faithful $2$-Neighbour Transitive Codes

We consider a code to be a subset of the vertex set of a Hamming graph. The set of $s$-neighbours of a code is the set of vertices, not in the code, at distance $s$ from some codeword, but not distance less than $s$ from any codeword. A $2$-neighbour transitive code is a code which admits a group $X$ of automorphisms which is transitive on the $s$-neighbours, for $s=1,2$, and transitive on the code itself. We give a classification of $2$-neighbour transitive codes, with minimum distance $δ\geq 5$, for which $X$ acts faithfully on the set of entries of the Hamming graph.

math.CO↗
arXiv2014

The classification of (3/2)-transitive permutation groups and (1/2)-transitive linear groups

A linear group G on a finite vector space V, (that is, a subgroup of GL(V)) is called (1/2)-transitive if all the G-orbits on the set of nonzero vectors have the same size. We complete the classification of all the (1/2)-transitive linear groups. As a consequence we complete the determination of the finite (3/2)-transitive permutation groups -- the transitive groups for which a point-stabilizer has all its nontrivial orbits of the same size. We also determine the finite (k+1/2)-transitive permutation groups for integers k > 1.

math.GR↗
arXiv2014

Primitive prime divisor elements in finite classical groups

This is an essay about a certain family of elements in the general linear group GL(d,q) called primitive prime divisor elements, or ppd-elements. A classification of the subgroups of GL(d,q) which contain such elements is discussed, and the proportions of ppd-elements in GL(d,q) and the various classical groups are given. This study of ppd-elements was motivated by their importance for the design and analysis of algorithms for computing with matrix groups over finite fields. An algorithm for recognising classical matrix groups, in which ppd-elements play a central role is described.

math.GR↗
arXiv2014

Point-primitive generalised hexagons and octagons

In 2008, Schneider and Van Maldeghem proved that if a group acts flag-transitively, point-primitively, and line-primitively on a generalised hexagon or generalised octagon, then it is an almost simple group of Lie type. We show that point-primitivity is sufficient for the same conclusion, regardless of the action on lines or flags. This result narrows the search for generalised hexagons or octagons with point- or line-primitive collineation groups beyond the classical examples, namely the two generalised hexagons and one generalised octagon admitting the Lie type groups $\mathsf{G}_2(q)$, $\,^3\mathsf{D}_4(q)$, and $\,^2\mathsf{F}_4(q)$, respectively.

math.CO↗
arXiv2014

Locally triangular graphs and rectagraphs with symmetry

Locally triangular graphs are known to be halved graphs of bipartite rectagraphs, which are connected triangle-free graphs in which every $2$-arc lies in a unique quadrangle. A graph $Γ$ is locally rank 3 if there exists $G\leq \mathrm{Aut}(Γ)$ such that for each vertex $u$, the permutation group induced by the vertex stabiliser $G_u$ on the neighbourhood $Γ(u)$ is transitive of rank 3. One natural place to seek locally rank 3 graphs is among the locally triangular graphs, where every induced neighbourhood graph is isomorphic to a triangular graph $T_n$. This is because the graph $T_n$, which has vertex set the $2$-subsets of $\{1,\ldots,n\}$ and edge set the pairs of $2$-subsets intersecting at one point, admits a rank 3 group of automorphisms. In this paper, we classify the locally $4$-homogeneous rectagraphs under some additional structural assumptions. We then use this result to classify the connected locally triangular graphs that are also locally rank 3.

math.GR↗
arXiv2014

Generalised quadrangles and transitive pseudo-hyperovals

A pseudo-hyperoval of a projective space $\PG(3n-1,q)$, $q$ even, is a set of $q^n+2$ subspaces of dimension $n-1$ such that any three span the whole space. We prove that a pseudo-hyperoval with an irreducible transitive stabiliser is elementary. We then deduce from this result a classification of the thick generalised quadrangles $\mathcal{Q}$ that admit a point-primitive, line-transitive automorphism group with a point-regular abelian normal subgroup. Specifically, we show that $\mathcal{Q}$ is flag-transitive and isomorphic to $T_2^*(\mathcal{H})$, where $\mathcal{H}$ is either the regular hyperoval of $\PG(2,4)$ or the Lunelli--Sce hyperoval of $\PG(2,16)$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2014

The density of uncyclic matrices

An element $X$ in the algebra ${\rm M}(n,\mathbb{F})$ of all $n\times n$ matrices over a field $\mathbb{F}$ is said to be $f$-cyclic if the underlying vector space considered as an $\mathbb{F}[X]$-module has at least one cyclic primary component. These are the matrices considered to be `good' in the Holt-Rees version of Norton's irreducibility test in the MeatAxe algorithm. We prove that, for any finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$, the proportion of matrices in ${\rm M}(n,\mathbb{F}_q)$ that are `not good' decays exponentially to zero as the dimension $n$ approaches infinity. Turning this around, we prove that the density of `good' matrices in ${\rm M}(n,\mathbb{F}_q)$ for the MeatAxe depends on the degree, showing that it is at least $1-\frac2q(\frac{1}{q}+\frac{1}{q^2}+\frac{2}{q^3})^n$ for $q\geq4$. We conjecture that the density is at least $1-\frac1q(\frac{1}{q}+\frac{1}{2q^2})^n$ for all $q$ and $n$, and confirm this conjecture for dimensions $n\leq 37$. Finally we give a one-sided Monte Carlo algorithm called IsfCyclic to test whether a matrix is `good', at a cost of ${\rm O}({\rm Mat}(n)\log n)$ field operations, where ${\rm Mat}(n)$ is an upper bound for the number of field operations required to multiply two matrices in ${\rm M}(n,\mathbb{F}_q)$.

math.RA↗