Vertex-minimal planar graphs with a prescribed automorphism group (Q2025118)

This article focuses on vertex-minimal planar graphs with a prescribed automorphism group. For a finite group \(G\), let \(\alpha^P(G)\) denote the minimal number of vertices among all graphs whose automorphism groups are isomorphic to \(G\). The authors construct a planar graph \(\Gamma(m)\) with an automorphism group isomorphic to \(Z_m\) for each positive integer \(m\). They obtain that \(\Gamma(m)\) has minimal order among all planar graphs with \(Z_m\)-symmetry and then prove the conjecture proposed by \textit{D. Marusic} [Publ. Elektroteh. Fak., Univ. Beogr., Ser. Mat. Fiz. 678--715, 161--169 (1980; Zbl 0461.05036)]. They also consider vertex-minimal planar graphs with dihedral symmetry groups. They establish the exact value of \(\alpha^P(D_{2n})\) and then answer an open question stated by \textit{K. Archer} et al. [J. Algebr. Comb. 54, No. 1, 1--15 (2021; Zbl 1470.05041)].