Sharp permutation groups whose point stabilizers are Frobenius groups with cyclic Frobenius kernel (Q7030583)

Let \(G\) be a finite group acting on a finite set \(X\). This induces a linear action of \(G\) on the complex vector space \(\mathbb{C}[X]\), which is called the permutation representation with a basis indexed by the elements of \(X\), where \(G\) acts by permuting these basis elements. The corresponding permutation character \(\theta\) is defined as the number of elements of \(X\) fixed by \(g\). In other words, \(\theta(g)\) counts the elements of \(X\) that remain unchanged under the action of \(g \in G\).\N\NLet \(\mathcal{L}=\{\theta(g)\mid g\in G, g\neq e\}\). It was shown by \textit{H. F. Blichfeldt} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 5, 461--466 (1904; JFM 35.0161.01)] that the number \N\[\NM=\prod_{l\in\mathcal{L}}(|X|-l) \N\]\Nis divisible by \(|G|\). This theorem was rediscovered by \textit{M. Kiyota} [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 27, 119 (1979; Zbl 0417.20003)]. If \(M=|G|\), then \(G\) is said to be a sharp permutation group of type \(\mathcal{L}\). This terminology was suggested by \textit{M. Deza} [Ann. Discrete Math. 6, 41--55 (1980; Zbl 0458.05004).\N\NSome important examples of sharp permutation groups are the geometric groups. A permutation group is said to be geometric if the pointwise stabilizer of any finite subset acts transitively on the points that it does not fix. \textit{P. Cameron} and \textit{M. Deza} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 20, 373--386 (1979; Zbl 0449.05016)] proved that a geometric group of type \(\mathcal{L}\) is sharp of type \(\mathcal{L}\). The geometric groups of type \(\mathcal{L}\) have been classified by \textit{B. Zil'ber} [Seminarber., Humboldt-Univ. Berlin, Sekt. Math. 98, 186--208 (1988; Zbl 0672.03019)] for \(|\mathcal{L}|\geq7\) using `elementary' methods, without relying on the classification of finite simple groups. For \(|\mathcal{L}|\leq6\), \textit{T. Maund} [Bases for permutation groups. Oxford: University of Oxford (PhD Thesis) (1989)] determined the geometric groups using the classification.\N\NA significant body of research is devoted to the investigation of non-geometric sharp permutation groups. In most cases, \(|\mathcal{L}|=2\) is examined. A detailed overview of the results in this area is provided by \textit{D. P. Brozovic} [Commun. Algebra 42, No. 7, 3028--3062 (2014; Zbl 1301.20001)].\N\NIn this paper, the author investigates the structure of sharp permutation groups of type \(\{0, k\}\) whose point stabilizers are Frobenius groups with cyclic kernels. The following theorem is proved:\N\NLet \((G, X)\) be a transitive, non-geometric sharp permutation group of type \(\{0, k\}\). Suppose that a point stabilizer \(G_x\) is a Frobenius group with cyclic kernel. Then \(G_x \cong \mathrm{AGL}(1, p)\), the affine general linear group over the field \(\mathbb{F}_p\) for some odd prime \(p\) and \((G, X)\) is permutation isomorphic to a certain subgroup \(H \leq \mathrm{AGL}(2, p)\), where \N\[\NH=\left\{ \begin{pmatrix} 1 & a\\\N0 & b \end{pmatrix}\mid a,b\in\mathbb{F}_p,\ b\neq0 \right\}. \N\]\NThe proof of the theorem relies on results from the article by \textit{D. P. Brozovic} and \textit{P. K. Sin} [Commun. Algebra 44, No. 8, 3324--3339 (2016; Zbl 1350.20001)] and on results by \textit{R. Baer} [Math. Z. 75, 333--372 (1961; Zbl 0103.01404); Arch. Math. 12, 81--89 (1961; Zbl 0102.26903)] concerning groups admitting a non-trivial normal partition.