The Finite Primitive Permutation Groups Containing an Abelian Regular Subgroup (Q4444951)

In this paper, the author classifies finite primitive permutation groups \(G\) containing a regular abelian subgroup \(A\). This is a classical problem. If the primitive group contains an \(n\)-cycle (i.e. \(A\) is cyclic), then either \(n\) is a prime or, by a result of Schur, \(G\) is \(2\)-transitive (in the case that \(n\) is prime, \(G\) is either metacyclic or \(2\)-transitive by a result of Burnside). In the case that the group contains an \(n\)-cycle, \(G\) is \(2\)-transitive and from the classification of finite simple groups, one knows all \(2\)-transitive groups. Feit observed that this easily gives a list of \(2\)-transitive groups containing an \(n\)-cycle. It is more difficult to handle the case of abelian regular groups. The proof uses the classification of finite simple groups together with the structure of primitive permutation groups. A key ingredient is the knowledge of factorizations of almost simple groups; see \textit{M. W. Liebeck}, \textit{C. E. Praeger} and \textit{J. Saxl} [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 432 (1990; Zbl 0703.20021)]. The main result is Theorem 1.1 which lists all such groups. This states that either \(G\) contains a regular normal abelian subgroup (not necessarily \(A\)) or is one of a small number of families (the basic examples come from almost simple groups -- one can construct new examples with the minimal normal subgroup a direct product of isomorphic simple groups). There has been further work on the case of a general (not necessarily abelian) subgroup particularly in the case of almost simple groups by Liebeck, Praeger and Saxl and also by Baumeister.