Cayley maps (Q2573643)

A Cayley map is an imbedding of a Cayley graph into a closed orientable 2-manifold so that each vertex determines the same clockwise cyclic rotation of generators and their inverses. The 51-item reference list for this paper gives some indication of the large numbers of researchers who have studied this concept, particularly during the past 34 years [starting with \textit{N. L. Biggs}, Cayley maps and symmetrical maps, Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 72, 381--386 (1972; Zbl 0243.05104)]. The main purpose of the present paper is to provide a general algebraic theory, to facilitate the continued study of Cayley maps by other researchers. The authors apply that theory to determine exactly which regular or edge-transitive tilings of the sphere or plane are Cayley maps or Cayley graphs.