Genus zero actions on Riemann surfaces (Q2731416)

This paper classifies those finite groups \(G\) which admit an action on some compact connected Riemann surface \(M\) so that if \(H\) is any non-trivial subgroup of \(G\) then the orbit surface \(M/H\) has genus zero \((M/H= P^1(C))\). For each such group, all possible actions of this type are determined. These groups are called genus zero groups and the actions are called genus zero actions.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINETheorem 1: The groups having genus zero are the cyclic groups, the generalized quaternion groups \(Q(2^n)\), the polyhedral groups and the Zassenhaus metacyclic groups \(G_{p,4}(-1)\), where \(p\) is an odd prime.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINESome of these groups have genus zero actions on surfaces of higher genus. The groups with genus zero actions on \(P^1(C)\) are cyclic or polyhedral and all cyclic groups have such an action. Only the cyclic groups \(Z_2\), \(Z_3\), \(Z_4\), and \(Z_6\) have genus zero actions on the torus. The cyclic groups of prime power order admit genus zero actions on Riemann surfaces of arbitrary high genus. The only other cyclic groups to have genus zero actions on surfaces of higher genus are \(Z_{pq}\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are distinct primes. Finally, genus zero actions of the generalized quaternion groups \(Q(2^n)\) and the Zassenhaus metacyclic groups \(G_{p,4}(-1)\), where \(p\) is an odd prime are described. For each of the genus zero groups and each of the possible actions, the genus of the surface on which they act is given.