Orbit-equivalent infinite permutation groups. (Q2435043)

Let \(X\) be an infinite set. A topology on the symmetric group \(S:=\text{Sym}(X)\) can be defined as follows. For each bijection \(f_0\) between finite subsets of \(X\) define \(U_{f_0}:=\{f\in S\mid f\text{ extends }f_0\}\); then these \(U_{f_0}\) form a basis of open sets in \(S\). A subgroup \(G\) of \(S\) is closed in this topology if and only if \(G\) is the automorphism group of some finite-relational structure \(M\) on \(X\). Two subgroups of \(S\) are called orbit-equivalent if they have the same orbits on the set of \(k\)-subsets of \(X\) for each \(k\geq 1\). The main theorem of this paper is: If \(H\leq G\) are closed, orbit-equivalent subgroups of \(S\) and \(G\) is primitive but not \(2\)-transitive, then \(H=G\). -- The authors conjecture that using a result of \textit{P. J. Cameron} [Math. Z. 148, 127-139 (1976; Zbl 0313.20022)] the condition that \(G\) is not \(2\)-transitive can be omitted. A main tool in the proof of the theorem is the notion of local rigidity: \(G\leq S\) is locally rigid if for each finite subset \(U\subseteq X\) there exists a finite subset \(V\) such that \(U\subseteq V\subseteq X\) and the setwise stabilizer \(G_{\{V\}}\) fixes \(U\) pointwise [see \textit{M. Droste} et al., J. Comb. Theory, Ser. B 62, No. 1, 63-95 (1994; Zbl 0799.03034)]. For example, it is shown that if \(H\leq G\) are closed, orbit-equivalent subgroups of \(S\) and \(G\) is locally rigid, then \(H=G\). On the other hand, it is proved that every primitive subgroup of \(S\) which is not locally rigid must be \(2\)-homogeneous, so the proof of the main theorem is reduced to the case where \(G\) is \(2\)-homogeneous but not \(2\)-transitive. The paper ends with a number of open questions and conjectures.