Symmetric cubic graphs of small girth (Q2642013)

A vertex-transitive simple graph \(\Gamma\) is called \(s\)-regular if \(\text{Aut}(\Gamma)\) acts as a regular permutation group on the set of \(s\)-arcs of \(\Gamma\). Vertex-transitive, 3-valent graphs of girth \(g\leq9\) are completely classified. The arc-transitive subgroups of their automorphism groups are quotients of seven groups previously determined by \textit{M. Conder} and \textit{P. Lorimer} [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. B 47, 60--72 (1989; Zbl 0682.05036)] by adding extra relations of short length corresponding to short cycles in the graph. These groups are closely related to quotients of the triangle group \(\Delta(2,3,g)\) or, when \(g=8\), of the group \(\langle x,y\mid x^2=y^3=[x,y]^4=1\rangle\). The precisely 15 such \(s\)-regular graphs for \(s=3,4\), and 5 are listed together with presentations of their respective arc-transitive subgroups. On the other hand, there are infinitely many 3-regular, 3-valent graphs of girth \(g\) for \(g=10\) and also for \(g=11\).