Groups acting on trees: From local to global structure (Q5945307)

If \(T\) is a locally finite tree, then its group of automorphisms \(\text{Aut }T\) is locally compact. A rank one simple algebraic group \(G\) over a locally compact non-Archimedean field acts on the associated Bruhat-Tits tree \(\Delta\), and so \(G\) is a closed subgroup of \(\text{Aut }\Delta\). Also, its action on \(\Delta\) is locally \(\infty\)-transitive. The authors study a large class of groups of automorphisms of a locally finite tree, which exhibit a rich structure theory analogous to that of semisimple Lie groups. In Chapter 1 they consider the structure theory of closed non-discrete locally primitive groups of automorphisms of trees and graphs. A subgroup \(H\) of \(\text{Aut }\Delta\) is locally primitive if the stabilizer \(H(x)\) of every vertex \(x\) acts as a primitive permutation group on the set of neighboring edges. Chapter 2 is devoted to the structure of small neighborhoods of the identity in a locally primitive group. In Chapter 3 they consider vertex transitive groups (in particular, 2-transitive groups) and show that under natural conditions they are often either discrete or already \(\infty\)-transitive.