Action graphs and coverings (Q1349099)

An action graph is a combinatorial representation of an action of a group \(G\) on a set \(Z\) via a graph with vertices from \(Z\) and edges connecting \(z\) and \( z \cdot s \) for all \(s\) in some \(S \subseteq G\). The key idea of this article is based on a simple observation that an epimorphism of group actions induces a covering projection of the respective action graphs. This observation allows the author to present a unified theory of several widely studied problems and areas of algebraic and topological graph theory, and to restate some previously known results as well as to obtain a number of new ones. After deriving several general results concerning the action graph covers, a large part of the article is devoted to the problem of reconstruction of action graphs from smaller ones, and to lifts and projections of equivariant automorphisms. Some algorithmic aspects of the connection between action graphs and the presentations of the involved groups are also considered. The case for the study of action graphs is well presented and supported by a great number of good and interesting examples. The applications suggested may indeed prove to be fruitful, and the paper will most likely inspire several new results.