Stories about Groups and Sequences

The main theme of this article is that counting orbitsof an infinite permutation group on finite subsets or tuplesis very closely related to combinatorial enumeration; this pointof view ties together various disparate ``stories'. Among theseare reconstruction problems, the relation between connected andarbitrary graphs, the enumeration of N-free posets, and someof the combinatorics of Stirling numbers.     

Efficient counting of degree sequences

We present formulas to count the set $D_0\left(n\right)$ of degree sequences of simple graphs of order $n$, the set $D\left(n\right)$ of degree sequences of those graphs with no isolated vertices, and the set $D_{k\text{\_}con}\left(n\right)$ of degree sequences of those graphs that are $k$-connected for fixed $k$. The formulas all use a function of Barnes and Savage and the associated dynamic programming algorithms all run in time polynomial in $n$ and are asymptotically faster than previous known algorithms for these problems. We also show that $\left|D\left(n\right)\right|$ and $\left|D_{1\text{\_}con}\left(n\right)\right|$ are asymptotically equivalent but $\left|D\left(n\right)\right|$ and $\left|D_0\left(n\right)\right|$ as well as $\left|D\left(n\right)\right|$ and $\left|D_{k\text{\_}con}\left(n\right)\right|$ with fixed $k\ge 2$ are asymptotically inequivalent. Finally, we explain why we are unable to obtain the absolute asymptotic orders of these functions from their formulas.     

The L-sharp permutation groups

An answer is given to a problem proposed by Bannai and Ito for {l,l+s,l+s+t}-sharp permutation group, and the result is used to determine L-sharp groups for L={l,l+1,l+3}and{l,l+2,l+3}.     

TheL-sharp permutation groups

An answer is given to a problem proposed by Bannai and Ito for {I, I + s, I + s + t}-sharp permutation group, and the result is used to determineL-sharp groups for L={I, I + 1, I + 3} and {I, I + 2, I + 3}.     

Suballowable sequences and geometric permutations

We define suballowable sequences of permutations as a generalization of allowable sequences. We give a characterization of allowable sequences in the class of suballowable sequences, prove a Helly-type result on sets of permutations which form suballowable sequences, and show how suballowable sequences are related to problems of geometric realizability. We discuss configurations of points and geometric permutations in the plane. In particular, we find a characterization of pairwise realizability of planar geometric permutations, give two necessary conditions for realizability of planar geometric permutations, and show that these conditions are not sufficient.     

Direct products of automorphism groups of graphs

In this article we study the product action of the direct product of automorphism groups of graphs. We generalize the results of Watkins [J. Combin Theory 11 (1971), 95–104], Nowitz and Watkins [Monatsh. Math. 76 (1972), 168–171] and W. Imrich [Israel J. Math. 11 (1972), 258–264], and we show that except for an infinite family of groups S_n × S_n, n≥2 and three other groups D₄ × S₂, D₄ × D₄ and S₄ × S₂ × S₂, the direct product of automorphism groups of two graphs is itself the automorphism group of a graph. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 62: 26–36, 2009     

Conjugacy classes in finite permutation groups via homomorphic images

The lifting of results from factor groups to the full group is a standard technique for solvable groups. This paper shows how to utilize this approach in the case of non-solvable normal subgroups to compute the conjugacy classes of a finite group.

     

Regular symmetric groups of boolean functions

We show that with the exception of four known cases: C₃, C₄, C₅, and , all regular permutation groups can be represented as symmetric groups of boolean functions. This solves the problem posed by A. Kisielewicz in the paper [A. Kisielewicz, Symmetry groups of boolean functions and constructions of permutation groups, J. Algebra 199 (1998) 379-403]. A slight extension of our proof yields the same result for semiregular groups.     

The graphical complexity of direct products of permutation groups

In this article, we improve known results, and, with one exceptional case, prove that when k≥3, the direct product of the automorphism groups of graphs whose edges are colored using k colors, is itself the automorphism group of a graph whose edges are colored using k colors. We have handled the case k = 2 in an earlier article. We prove similar results for directed edge‐colored graphs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 66:303‐318, 2011     

On amenability of two-generator groups

A discrete group G is amenable if there exists a finitely additive probability measure on G which is invariant under left translations and is defined on all subsets of G. It is proved that if the group is generated by two elements and is amenable then there are words being relators whose most of the consecutive pairs of the letters belong to a certain four-element set of pairs. This fact is applied to reproving non-amenability of a braid group. The same group provides an example showing that such type of condition is not su?cient for amenabilty.     

Finite permutation groups containing a transitive abelian subgroup

In this paper, we classify finite permutation groups with a transitive abelian subgroup that are almost simple, quasiprimitive and innately transitive, which extend the results of Li and Praeger that is on finite permutation groups with a transitive cyclic subgroup.     

Tyings in lattice-ordered permutation groups

In an -permutation group , with a chain and its Dedekind completion, the coincidence of two stabilizer subgroups yields a map from to , and this map commutes with all the elements of G. Roughly speaking, a tying is such a map. We show that the permutations of which commute with the tyings are exactly those in the closure of G in the full automorphism group with respect to the coarse stabilizer topology. We term this closure the gate completion of G, written . We show that each o-primitive component of consists of those permutations of the closure of the corresponding G component which respect the orbits of the points which are "tied" to nonsingleton o-blocks. Finally, we show that any two representations of the same lattice-ordered group which are complete and without dead segments give rise to the same , and that in this case is the -completion of G. Received January 29, 1995; accepted in final form March 20, 1996.     

Self-inverse Sheffer sequences and Riordan involutions

In this short note, we focus on self-inverse Sheffer sequences and involutions in the Riordan group. We translate the results of Brown and Kuczma on self-inverse sequences of Sheffer polynomials to describe all involutions in the Riordan group.     

Quantum automorphism groups of homogeneous graphs

Associated to a finite graph X is its quantum automorphism group G. The main problem is to compute the Poincaré series of G, meaning the series f(z)=1+c₁z+c₂z²+? whose coefficients are multiplicities of 1 into tensor powers of the fundamental representation. In this paper we find a duality between certain quantum groups and planar algebras, which leads to a planar algebra formulation of the problem. Together with some other results, this gives f for all homogeneous graphs having 8 vertices or less.     

Transitive permutation groups and equipotent voting rules

Let F a two-alternative voting rule and G_F the subgroup of permutations of the voters under which F is invariant. Group theoretic properties of G_F provide information about the voting rule F. In particular, sets of imprimitivity of G_F describe the ‘committee decomposition’ structure of F and permutation group transitivity of G_F (equipotency) is shown to be closely connected with equal distribution of power among the voters. If equipotency replaces anonymity in the hypotheses of May's theorem, voting rules other than simple majority are possible. By combining equipotency with two additional social choice conditions a new characterization of simple majority rule is obtained. Equipotency is proposed as an important alternative to the more restrictive anonymity as a fairness criterion in social choice.     

Pentavalent symmetric graphs admitting transitive non-abelian characteristically simple groups

Let $\Gamma$ be a graph and let $G$ be a group of automorphisms of $\Gamma$. The graph $\Gamma$ is called $G$-normal if $G$ is normal in the automorphism group of $\Gamma$. Let $T$ be a finite non-abelian simple group and let $G=T^l$ with $l\ge 1$. In this paper we prove that if every connected pentavalent symmetric $T$-vertex-transitive graph is $T$-normal, then every connected pentavalent symmetric $G$-vertex-transitive graph is $G$-normal. This result, among others, implies that every connected pentavalent symmetric $G$-vertex-transitive graph is $G$-normal except $T$ is one of 57 simple groups. Furthermore, every connected pentavalent symmetric $G$-regular graph is $G$-normal except $T$ is one of 20 simple groups, and every connected pentavalent $G$-symmetric graph is $G$-normal except $T$ is one of 17 simple groups.     

A Note on Point Stabilizers in Sharp Permutation Groups of Type {0, k}

We study sharp permutation groups of type {0, k} and observe that, once the isomorphism type of a point stabilizer is fixed, there are only finitely many possibilities for such a permutation group. We then show that a sharp permutation group of type {0, k} in which a point stabilizer is isomorphic to the alternating group on 5 letters must be a geometric group. There is, up to permutation isomorphism, one such permutation group.