Holomorph (mathematics)

In mathematics, especially in the area of algebra known as group theory, the holomorph of a group , denoted , is a group that simultaneously contains (copies of) and its automorphism group . It provides interesting examples of groups, and allows one to treat group elements and group automorphisms in a uniform context. The holomorph can be described as a semidirect product or as a permutation group.

Hol(G) as a semidirect product

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If   is the automorphism group of   then

 

where the multiplication is given by

  (1)

Typically, a semidirect product is given in the form   where   and   are groups and   is a homomorphism and where the multiplication of elements in the semidirect product is given as

 

which is well defined, since   and therefore  .

For the holomorph,   and   is the identity map, as such we suppress writing   explicitly in the multiplication given in equation (1) above.

For example,

  •   the cyclic group of order 3
  •   where  
  •   with the multiplication given by:
  where the exponents of   are taken mod 3 and those of   mod 2.

Observe, for example

 

and this group is not abelian, as  , so that   is a non-abelian group of order 6, which, by basic group theory, must be isomorphic to the symmetric group  .

Hol(G) as a permutation group

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A group G acts naturally on itself by left and right multiplication, each giving rise to a homomorphism from G into the symmetric group on the underlying set of G. One homomorphism is defined as λ: G → Sym(G),  (h) = g·h. That is, g is mapped to the permutation obtained by left-multiplying each element of G by g. Similarly, a second homomorphism ρ: G → Sym(G) is defined by  (h) = h·g−1, where the inverse ensures that  (k) =  ( (k)). These homomorphisms are called the left and right regular representations of G. Each homomorphism is injective, a fact referred to as Cayley's theorem.

For example, if G = C3 = {1, x, x2 } is a cyclic group of order three, then

  •  (1) = x·1 = x,
  •  (x) = x·x = x2, and
  •  (x2) = x·x2 = 1,

so λ(x) takes (1, x, x2) to (x, x2, 1).

The image of λ is a subgroup of Sym(G) isomorphic to G, and its normalizer in Sym(G) is defined to be the holomorph N of G. For each n in N and g in G, there is an h in G such that n·  =  ·n. If an element n of the holomorph fixes the identity of G, then for 1 in G, (n· )(1) = ( ·n)(1), but the left hand side is n(g), and the right side is h. In other words, if n in N fixes the identity of G, then for every g in G, n·  =  ·n. If g, h are elements of G, and n is an element of N fixing the identity of G, then applying this equality twice to n· ·  and once to the (equivalent) expression n·  gives that n(gn(h) = n(g·h). That is, every element of N that fixes the identity of G is in fact an automorphism of G. Such an n normalizes  , and the only   that fixes the identity is λ(1). Setting A to be the stabilizer of the identity, the subgroup generated by A and   is semidirect product with normal subgroup   and complement A. Since   is transitive, the subgroup generated by   and the point stabilizer A is all of N, which shows the holomorph as a permutation group is isomorphic to the holomorph as semidirect product.

It is useful, but not directly relevant, that the centralizer of   in Sym(G) is  , their intersection is  , where Z(G) is the center of G, and that A is a common complement to both of these normal subgroups of N.

Properties

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  • ρ(G) ∩ Aut(G) = 1
  • Aut(G) normalizes ρ(G) so that canonically ρ(G)Aut(G) ≅ G ⋊ Aut(G)
  •   since λ(g)ρ(g)(h) = ghg−1 (  is the group of inner automorphisms of G.)
  • KG is a characteristic subgroup if and only if λ(K) ⊴ Hol(G)

References

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  • Hall, Marshall Jr. (1959), The theory of groups, Macmillan, MR 0103215
  • Burnside, William (2004), Theory of Groups of Finite Order, 2nd ed., Dover, p. 87