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dc.contributor.advisorRoney-Dougal, Colva Mary
dc.contributor.advisorCameron, Peter J. (Peter Jephson)
dc.contributor.authorFreedman, Saul Daniel
dc.coverage.spatial218en_US
dc.date.accessioned2023-02-03T15:58:06Z
dc.date.available2023-02-03T15:58:06Z
dc.date.issued2022-11-29
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/26895
dc.description.abstractIn this thesis, we study three problems. First, we determine new bounds for base sizes b(G,Ω) of primitive subspace actions of finite almost simple classical groups G. Such base sizes are useful statistics in computational group theory. We show that if the underlying set Ω consists of k-dimensional subspaces of the natural module V = F_q^n for G, then b(G,Ω) ≥ ⌈n/k⌉ + c, where c ∈ {-2,-1,0,1} depends on n, q, k and the type of G. If instead Ω consists of pairs {X,Y} of subspaces of V with k:=dim(X) < dim(Y), and G is generated by PGL(n,q) and the graph automorphism of PSL(n,q), then b(G,Ω) ≤ max{⌈n/k⌉,4}. The second part of the thesis concerns the intersection graph Δ_G of a finite simple group G. This graph has vertices the nontrivial proper subgroups of G, and its edges are the pairs of subgroups that intersect nontrivially. We prove that Δ_G has diameter at most 5, and that a diameter of 5 is achieved only by the graphs of the baby monster group and certain unitary groups of odd prime dimension. This answers a question posed by Shen. Finally, we study the non-commuting, non-generating graph Ξ(G) of a group G, where G/Z(G) is either finite or non-simple. This graph is closely related to the hierarchy of graphs introduced by Cameron. The graph's vertices are the non-central elements of G, and its edges are the pairs {x,y} such that ⟨x, y⟩ ≠ G and xy ≠ yx. We show that if Ξ(G) has an edge, then either the graph is connected with diameter at most 5; the graph has exactly two connected components, each of diameter 2; or the graph consists of isolated vertices and a component of diameter at most 4. In this last case, either the nontrivial component has diameter 2, or G/Z(G) is a non-simple insoluble primitive group with every proper quotient cyclic.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.relationDiameters of graphs related to groups and base sizes of primitive groups - GAP and Magma code (thesis data) Freedman, S. D., University of St Andrews, 16 Aug 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17630/56ceed97-0a86-4684-b0a9-e454c1a7440ben
dc.relation.urihttps://doi.org/10.17630/56ceed97-0a86-4684-b0a9-e454c1a7440b
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/*
dc.subjectIntersection graphen_US
dc.subjectNon-commuting, non-generating graphen_US
dc.subjectBase sizeen_US
dc.subjectPrimitive groupsen_US
dc.subjectSubspace actionsen_US
dc.subjectFinite simple groupsen_US
dc.subjectGraphs defined on groupsen_US
dc.subject.lccQA166.185F8
dc.subject.lcshIntersection graph theoryen
dc.subject.lcshFinite simple groupsen
dc.titleDiameters of graphs related to groups and base sizes of primitive groupsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.contributor.sponsorEPSRCen_US
dc.contributor.sponsorUniversity of St Andrews. School of Mathematics and Statisticsen_US
dc.contributor.sponsorUniversity of St Andrews. St Leonard's Collegeen_US
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoralen_US
dc.type.qualificationnamePhD Doctor of Philosophyen_US
dc.publisher.institutionThe University of St Andrewsen_US
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.17630/sta/254
dc.identifier.grantnumberEP/R014604/1en_US


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