Regular embeddings of \(K_{n,n}\) where \(n\) is a power of 2. I: Metacyclic case (Q2372423)

A 2-cell imbedding of a graph \(G\) in a closed orientable 2-manifold is regular if the automorphism group of the map \(M= M(G)\) acts regularly on the arcs of \(G\,(\text{so\,}|\text{Aut\,}M|= 2|E(G)|)\). The authors seek to classify regular imbeddings of the regular complete bipartite graph \(K_{n,n}\), where \(n= 2^e\). They classify groups which factor as a product of two cyclic groups of order \(n\) so that the two factors are transposed by an involutory automorphism, and use this classification to classify the graph imbeddings of interest. They show that, for \(n= 2^e\), where \(e\geq 3\), up to map isomorphism there are exactly \(2^{e-2}+ 4\) regular imbeddings of \(K_{n,n}\). Their analysis splits into two cases, depending upon whether the relevant group is metacyclic or not. The present paper treats the first case. In a companion paper (submitted), the same authors handle the second case.