The genus level of a group (Q1036247)

Let \(S\) be a closed Riemann surface of genus \(g\) and let \(\text{Aut}(S)\) be its full group of conformal automorphisms. If \(G<\text{Aut}(S)\) is finite subgroup, then the \textit{genus level} of \(G\) is the number of distinct genera of the possible quotient orbifolds \(S/H\), where \(H\) runs over all non-trivial subgroups of \(G\). The \textit{genus level vector} of \(G\) is the tuple of increasing integers \((t_{1},\dots,t_{n})\), where \(t_{i}\) is the genus of some quotient orbifold \(S/H\), for \(H<G\) non-trivial; in particular, \(t_{1}\) is the genus of the orbifold \(S/G\). For level genus \(n=1\) groups, we have that the level genus vector is \((t_{1})\). If \(g \in \{0,1\)\}, then the groups \(G\) with genus level \(n=1\) are known. In this paper, the authors determine the genus level \(n=1\) groups for \(g \geq 2\): (1) if \(G\) has genus level \(1\) and genus level vector \((t)\), for some \(t>1\), then \(G \cong {\mathbb Z}_{p}\), where \(p\) is a prime; (2) if \(G\) has genus level \(1\) and genus level vector \((1)\), then \(G \cong {\mathbb Z}_{p^{n}}\), where \(p\) is a prime, or \(G \cong Q_{8}=\langle x,y: x^{4}=x^{2}y^{2}=yxy^{-1}x=1\rangle\). The study permits to provide an inductive algorithm to determine the \(p\)-groups of automorphisms of closed Riemann surfaces. The authors also ensure that this is possible for the class on non-simple groups of automorphisms. Explicit examples are provided.