Groups \(\mathrm{PSL}(3,p)\) and nonorientable regular maps. (Q1014608): Difference between revisions

A `regular map' is a 2-cell embedding of a connected graph on a surface, with the property that its automorphism group has a single orbit on incident vertex-edge-face triples. This paper attempts to give a complete classification of all regular maps (necessarily on non-orientable surfaces) with automorphism group \(\mathrm{PSL}(3,p)\) for some prime \(p\). Unfortunately the main theorem (giving the classification) is incorrect. There are no regular maps with automorphism group \(\mathrm{PSL}(3,q)\) for any prime-power \(q\) at all. The latter follows from theorems of \textit{Ya. N. Nuzhin} showing that \(\mathrm{PSL}(3,q)\) cannot be generated by three involutions, two of which commute [see Algebra Logic 29, No. 2, 134-143 (1990); translation from Algebra Logika 29, No. 2, 192-206 (1990; Zbl 0725.20015), and Algebra Logika 36, No. 4, 422-440 (1997); translation in Algebra Logic 36, No. 4, 245-256 (1997; Zbl 0936.20008)]. The projective images of the three matrices given in Theorem 2.2 of the current paper always generate a proper subgroup of \(\mathrm{PSL}(3,p)\); in fact the three matrices all lie in the subgroup \(\{X\in\text{SL}(3,p):X^TBX=B\}\) where \(B=\left(\begin{smallmatrix} 0&\;&1&\;&0\\ 1&\;&2\alpha\beta(\alpha^2-1)^{-1}&\;&0\\ 0&\;&0&\;&-1\end{smallmatrix}\right)\).