Two-Arc Transitive Graphs and Twisted Wreath Products

The paper addresses a part of the problem of classifying all 2-arc transitive graphs: namely, that of finding all groups acting 2-arc transitively on finite connected graphs such that there exists a minimal normal subgroup that is nonabelian and regular on vertices. A construction is given for such groups, together with the associated graphs, in terms of the following ingredients: a nonabelian simple group T, a permutation group P acting 2-transitively on a set , and a map F : Tsuch that x = x ^–1 for all x F() and such that Tis generated by F(). Conversely we show that all such groups and graphs arise in this way. Necessary and sufficient conditions are found for the construction to yield groups that are permutation equivalent in their action on the vertices of the associated graphs (which are consequently isomorphic). The different types of groups arising are discussed and various examples given.