All Questions
Tagged with reference-request gr.group-theory
91 questions
62
votes
9
answers
9k
views
Fundamental groups of noncompact surfaces
I got fantastic answers to my previous question (about modern references for the fact that surfaces can be triangulated), so I thought I'd ask a related question. A basic fact about surface topology ...
- 44.8k
9
votes
2
answers
674
views
Powers of finite simple groups
I have heard about the following result: for each finite simple non-abelian group $S$ and each natural number $r\ge 2$ there exists a number $n=n(r,S)$ such that the power $S^n$ is $r$-generator but $...
- 331
42
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Measures of non-abelian-ness
Let $G$ be a finite non-abelian group of $n$ elements.
I would like a measure that intuitively captures the
extent to which $G$ is non-commutative.
One easy measure is a count of the non-commutative ...
- 151k
10
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Doubly-transitive groups
I want to know what all doubly-transitive groups look like. Do you know some good reference where I can read about it?
- 2,179
5
votes
1
answer
597
views
Can every cancellative invertible-free monoid be embedded in a group?
A monoid is invertible-free if $xy=1$ implies $x=y=1$ for all $x,y$.
Question: Can every cancellative invertible-free monoid be embedded in a group?
I'm fairly sure that a quotient of the free product ...
52
votes
14
answers
14k
views
Introductory text on geometric group theory?
Can someone indicate me a good introductory text on geometric group theory?
44
votes
10
answers
11k
views
The finite subgroups of SL(2,C)
Books can be written about the finite subgroups of $\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb C)$ (and their immediate family, like the polyhedral groups...) I am about to start writing notes for a short course about ...
- 47.3k
30
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How strong is this conjecture? $(Z/nZ)^*$ is generated by "small" elements
Conjecture: There are constants $c,k$ such that every $(Z/nZ)^*$ is generated by its elements smaller than $k (\log n)^c$.
Where $(Z/nZ)^*$ is the multiplicative group of integers mod $n$. My main ...
- 4,529
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Proofs of the Stallings-Swan theorem
It is a well-known and deep${}^\ast$ theorem that if a group $G$ has cohomological dimension one then it must be free. This was proved in the late 60's by Stallings (for finitely generated groups) and ...
- 35.9k
19
votes
0
answers
604
views
How is this group theoretic construct called?
Let $G$ be a finite group, $S\subset G$ a generating set, $|g| = |g|_S = $ word length with respect to $S$. Define the "defect" of $g,h$ to be
$$\psi(g,h) = |g|+|h|-|gh|$$
Then $\psi:G\times G \...
user6671
13
votes
1
answer
1k
views
When taking the fixed points commutes with taking the orbits
Let $G$ and $H$ be groups, both acting on a set $X$ on the left, in such a way that the two actions commute. (Equivalently, let $G \times H$ act on $X$.)
The set $\text{Fix}_H(X)$ of $H$-fixed ...
- 27.7k
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Classification of (not necessarily connected) compact Lie groups
I am looking for a classification of compact (not necessarily connected) Lie groups. Clearly, all such groups are extensions of a finite "component group" $\pi_0(G)$ by a compact connected ...
- 473
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
residually finite-by-$\mathbb{Z}$ groups are residually finite
I believe I read somewhere that residually finite-by-$\mathbb{Z}$ groups are residually finite. That is, if $N$ is residually finite with $G/N\cong \mathbb{Z}$ then $G$ is residually finite.
However, ...
- 2,821
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is the outer automorphism group of $\operatorname{SL}(2,\mathbb{F}_q)$?
I'm looking for a reference for a description of the outer automorphism groups of $\operatorname{SL}(2,\mathbb{F}_q)$ for $q = p^n$.
I'm sure such a thing must exist somewhere, but I'm having trouble ...
- 7,527
9
votes
2
answers
701
views
Reference for embeddings of reflection groups (related to folding ADE Coxeter graphs)?
There are a couple of indirect methods, using Lie theory or Springer's general theory of regular elements in (real, complex) reflection groups, to construct natural embeddings among certain Weyl ...
- 52.9k
8
votes
2
answers
596
views
If a semigroup embeds into a group, then is it a subdirect product of groups?
The title has it all:
Q. If a semigroup $S$ embeds into a group, then is $S$ (isomorphic to) a subdirect product of groups?
If yes, then $S$ is a subdirect product of subdirectly irreducible groups,...
- 10.5k
8
votes
1
answer
322
views
Does every cancellative duo semigroup embed into a group?
Prompted by the comments to a recent answer by YCor to a related question (here), I'd like to ask the following:
Q. Does every cancellative duo semigroup embed into a group?
A (multiplicatively ...
- 10.5k
4
votes
1
answer
256
views
On $(2,3)$-generation of finite simple classical groups
A group $G$ is called $(a,b)$-generated if $G=\langle x,y\rangle$ for some $x,y\in G$ with $|x|=a$ and $|y|=b$.
I know some of the histories on this problem. For example, in this early paper in 1996 ...
- 379
30
votes
1
answer
592
views
Guess that group via product queries
Suppose someone (person B) knows a finite group $G$ of order $n$.
You (person A) know only the order $n$,
and that $1$ is the name of the identity element.
The group elements are named $1,2,\ldots,n$ ...
- 151k
27
votes
1
answer
3k
views
An anecdote by R. Schmidt
Did anybody here ever read those lines by R. Schmidt (?) where he talked about the terseness of articles in group theory in the days prior to the conclusion of the classification of the finite simple ...
24
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Does any textbook take this approach to the isomorphism theorems?
Below, I present an outline of a proof of the first isomorphism theorem for groups. This is how I usually think of the first isomorphism theorem for ______________, but groups will get the points ...
- 12.1k
24
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why can the general quintic be transformed to $v^5-5\beta v^3+10\beta^2v-\beta^2 = 0$?
The quintic can be transformed to the one-parameter Brioschi quintic,
$$u^5-10\alpha u^3+45\alpha^2u-\alpha^2 = 0\tag1$$
This form is well-known for its connection to the symmetries of the ...
- 12.6k
24
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Non-abelian Grothendieck group
By general nonsense the forgetful functor from groups to monoids has a left adjoint. It maps a monoid $(X,\cdot,1)$ to the free group on $\{\underline{x} : x \in X\}$ modulo the relations $\underline{...
- 63.1k
21
votes
1
answer
564
views
Partitions of ${\rm Sym}(\mathbb{N})$ induced by convergent, but not absolutely convergent series
Let $(a_n) \subset \mathbb{R}$ be a sequence such that the series
$\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n$ converges, but does not converge absolutely.
Then there is a partition of the symmetric group ${\rm Sym}(\...
- 19.6k
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
A new combinatorial property for the character table of a finite group?
Let $G$ be a finite group and $\Lambda = (\lambda_{i,j})$ its character table with $\lambda_{i,1}$ the degree of the ith character.
Consider the following combinatorial property of $\Lambda$: for ...
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Has anyone seen this construction of the Weil representation of $\mathrm{Sp}_{2k}(\mathbb{F}_p)$?
$\def\FF{\mathbb{F}}\def\CC{\mathbb{C}}\def\QQ{\mathbb{Q}}\def\Sp{\text{Sp}}\def\SL{\text{SL}}\def\GL{\text{GL}}\def\PGL{\text{PGL}}$Let $p$ be an odd prime. The Weil representation is a $p^k$-...
- 156k
17
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Reference for this theorem in representation theory?
Let $G$ be a finite group and $\chi$ be an irreducible character of
$G$ (characteristic zero algebraically closed base field). If $H$ is
the kernel of $\chi$ then the irreducible representations of $G/...
- 887
17
votes
3
answers
815
views
Does this subgroup of "even braids" have a name?
The full braid group on $n$ strands $B_n$ admits a surjective homomorphism $p\colon\thinspace B_n\to \Sigma_n$ onto the symmetric group on $n$ letters, which takes a braid to the induced permutation ...
- 35.9k
17
votes
1
answer
575
views
Group cochains invariant under the action of the symmetric group
Let $G$ be a finite group and $A$ an abelian group. Recall the cochain groups
$$
C^k = \{f: G^k \to A\}
$$
and the coboundary map
$$
\delta : C^k \to C^{k+1}
$$
$$
(\delta f)(g_1, \ldots, ...
- 12.8k
17
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Examples of locally hyperbolic groups
It is well-known that a subgroup of a hyperbolic group need not be hyperbolic. Let us say that a (finitely generated) group $G$ is locally hyperbolic if all its finitely generated subgroups are (...
- 383
16
votes
2
answers
818
views
Decomposing $(\mathbb C^n)^{\otimes m}$ as a representation of $S_n\times S_m$
$V=\mathbb C^n$ is a $\mathbb CS_n$-module, where $S_n$ is the symmetric group of degree $n$, via the representation sending a permutation to the corresponding permutation matrix. The tensor power $V^...
- 38.6k
16
votes
2
answers
992
views
Maximal number of maximal subgroups
Let $G$ be a finite group. I want to find an upper bound on the number of the maximal subgroups. My questions is does it possible to prove that the number of maximal subgroups of any finite group $G$ ...
- 2,179
15
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Realizable Order Sequences for Finite Groups
My post is motivated at least in part by this MO question.
Has there been any work done on realizable order sequences for finite groups? By an "order sequence" I mean a non-decreasing list of the ...
- 7,831
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
quasi-homomorphisms of groups
Suppose that $G$ is a group and $d$ is a left-invaraint metric on $G$, e.g., the word metric (provided that $G$ is finitely-generated) or distance function determined by a left-invariant Riemannian ...
- 31.2k
13
votes
1
answer
736
views
Idempotent measures on the free binary system?
Let $(S,*)$ be the free (non associative) binary system on one generator (so $S$ is just the set of terms in $*$ and $1$). There is an extension of $*$ to the space $P(S)$ of finitely additive ...
- 3,547
13
votes
2
answers
414
views
Is every finite-order unimodular matrix conjugate to a $0,1,-1$ matrix?
Problem. Given a matrix $A\in\mathrm{GL}(n,\mathbb{Z})$ such that $A^k=1$ for some $k\geq 1$, is there a matrix $g\in\mathrm{GL}(n,\mathbb{Z})$ such that $gAg^{-1}$ has only $0$, $1$, and $-1$ as ...
- 23.3k
12
votes
1
answer
744
views
Is the following construction of the 0-Hecke monoid (well) known?
Let W be a Coxeter group with Coxeter generators S. The corresponding 0-Hecke monoid H(W) has generating set S, the braid relations of W and the relations that each element of S is an idempotent. If ...
- 38.6k
12
votes
0
answers
424
views
Reference for class of involutions containing longest element of finite Coxeter group?
Consider a finite (say irreducible) Coxeter group $W$ with a fixed generator set $S$ and rank $n$. This is the same thing as a finite real reflection group, generated by a set of “simple” ...
- 52.9k
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
When is an HNN-extension finitely presented?
Let $G=\langle H, t; K^t=K^{\prime}\rangle$ be an HNN-extension of $H$, with $t$ inducing the isomorphism $\phi: K\rightarrow K^{\prime}$. I was wondering if the following question can be answered, ...
- 2,821
11
votes
2
answers
854
views
Upper bound on order of finite subgroups of GL_n(Z_p)?
Fix a prime $p$ and integer $n>1$, along with the ring $R$ of integers in a finite extension of the field $\mathbb{Q}_p$ (for example $R = \mathbb{Z}_p$).
Is there an upper bound $C(n,p)$ on ...
- 52.9k
11
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Textbook source for finite group properties deducible from character table?
Various questions have been posted on MO (some answered, some not) involving the character table of a finite group $G$ over a splitting field such as $\mathbb{C}$ of characteristic 0. My basic ...
- 52.9k
10
votes
3
answers
913
views
Explicit free subgroup in Thompson's group $V$
R. Thompson introduced three groups $F\subset T\subset V$. The question concerning amenability of $F$ is still unanswered and has attracted much attention. I have read that Thompson group $V$ contains ...
- 743
10
votes
2
answers
538
views
Is there an analogue of Mostow-Palais equivariant embedding theorem for noncompact groups
Let $M$ be a (Hausdorff) smooth compact manifold and $G$ a Lie group acting smoothly on $M$. If $G$ is compact then, by Mostow-Palais theorem, there exists an equivariant smooth embedding $M\to {\...
- 31.2k
10
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Twist of a group Hopf-algebra
Let $G$ be a finite group with identity element $e$, and $C[G]$ the ring of complex-valued functions on $G$, with pointwise addition and multiplication. Then $C[G]$ is naturally a Hopf algebra, with ...
- 13.3k
10
votes
2
answers
815
views
Paper by I. N. Sanov, Solution of the Burnside problem for exponent 4
I have searched extensively online and for copies of printed journals containing the paper which details Sanov's solution to the Burnside Problem for exponent 4, which is widely cited in many papers ...
- 201
10
votes
2
answers
410
views
Reference request: Recent progress on the conjugacy problem for torsion-free one-relator groups?
I am aware that the Spelling Theorem of B. B. Newman implies that one-relator groups with torsion are hyperbolic, and thus have a solvable conjugacy problem. My understanding is that for one-relator ...
- 639
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Reference for Ring Structure on Group Cohomology
As a graded $\mathbb{Z}$-module, the structure of the group cohomology $H^{*}(\mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z};\mathbb{Z})$ is extremely well-known. Yet, I am having difficulty finding a reference concerning ...
- 4,920
9
votes
1
answer
435
views
Questions on the group $\mathrm{GL}(H)$
$\DeclareMathOperator\GL{GL}\DeclareMathOperator\U{U}$Let $H$ be an infinite dimensional complex Hilbert space. Consider the group $\GL(H)$ of bounded invertible operators on $H$.
Question 1. I've ...
- 1,586
9
votes
3
answers
675
views
Group extensions and actions on categories
Let G and H be two groups. There is a one-to-one correspondence between:
(i) an (isomorphism class of) extension of G by H, i.e. an exact sequence of group morphisms $1\to H\to E\to G\to 1$;
(ii) an ...
- 93
9
votes
1
answer
460
views
Connections between linear representations and permutation representations
A finite group $\Gamma$ might be represented by a linear transformation
$$\rho : \Gamma\to\mathrm{GL}(\Bbb R^d),$$
or by permutations
$$\phi :\Gamma\to\mathrm{Sym}(n).$$
Of course, latter ones can ...
- 13.6k