On graphs with edge-transitive automorphism groups (Q761537)

We need some definitions from the paper under review. Hypothesis A. Let G be a group and \(M_ 1\) and \(M_ 2\) be finite subgroups of G such that: (1) \(G=<M_ 1,M_ 2>\). (2) No non-trivial normal subgroup of G is contained in \(M_ 1\cap M_ 2\). (3) \(| M_ i/M_ 1\cap M_ 2| =2^{n_ i}+1\) for \(n_ i\geq 1\), \(i=1,2\), and \(n_ 1n_ 2>1\). (4) There exists a normal subgroup \(N_ i\) in \(M_ i\) such that \(N_ i/R\simeq L_ 2(2^{n_ i})'\) for \(R=\cap_{x\in M_ i}(M_ i\cap M^ x_ j)\) and \(\{i,j\}=\{1,2\}.\) Hypothesis B. Let \(\Gamma\) be a connected graph and G be an edge- transitive group of automorphisms of \(\Gamma\) such that for all \(\alpha\in \Gamma:\) (a) \(G_{\alpha}\) is finite, (b) \(| \Delta (\alpha)| =2^{n_ i}+1\), \(n_{\alpha}\geq 1\), and \(\max \{n_{\alpha},n_{\beta}\}>1\) for \(\beta\in \Delta (\alpha)\). (c) There exists a normal subgroup \(N_{\alpha}\) in \(G_{\alpha}\) such that \(N_{\alpha}^{\Delta (\alpha)}\simeq L_ 2(2^{n_{\alpha}})'\). - Here \(G_{\alpha}\) denotes the stabilizer of \(\alpha\) in G, \(\Delta\) (\(\alpha)\) the set of vertices adjacent to \(\alpha\), and \(N_{\alpha}^{\Delta (\alpha)}\) the permutation group on \(\Delta\) (\(\alpha)\) induced by \(N_{\alpha}\). All graphs are undirected and without loops and multiple edges. Let q, \(q_ 1\) and \(q_ 2\) be powers of 2, and let \(Aut(L_ 2(q_ 1))\wr Aut(L_ 2(q_ 2))\) be the wreath product with respect to the natural permutation representation of \(L_ 2(q_ 2)\). Set \({\mathcal L}=\{L_ 2(q_ 1)\times L_ 2(q_ 2),Aut(L_ 2(q_ 1))\wr Aut(L_ 2(q_ 2)),\) where \(q_ 1q_ 2>1\); \(L_ 3(q)\), \(Sp_ 4(q)\), \(q>2\); \(U_ 4(q)\), \({}^ 3D_ 4(q)\), \(J_ 2\}.\) Definition. A pair of groups \(\{M_ 1,M_ 2\}\) is parabolic of type X for \(X\in {\mathcal L}\), if for \(i=1,2\), (1) X is not the wreath product, and \(M_ i\) is isomorphic to a subgroup of \(N_{Aut(X)}(X_ i)\) which contains \(X_ i\), or (2) X is the wreath product, and \(M_ i\) is isomorphic to a subgroup of \(X_ i\) which contains \(X_ i\cap L_ 2(q_ 1)'\wr L_ 2(q_ 2)'\). A pair of groups \(<M_ 1,M_ 2>\) is parabolic of type J, if for \(i=1,2\) there exists a normal subgroup \(X_ i\) in \(M_ i\) such that: (i) \(| M_ i/X_ i| \leq 2\). (ii) \(X_ 1/O_ 2(X_ 1)\simeq L_ 2(4)\), \(O_ 2(X_ 1)\simeq Q_ 8*D_ 8\) and \(C_{M_ 1}(O_ 2(X_ 1))\leq O_ 2(X_ 1)\). (iii) \(X_ 2=BO_ 2(X_ 2)\), \(B\simeq C_ 3\times \Sigma_ 3\), \(O_ 2(X_ 2)\) is special of order \(2^ 6\), and the 3-elements in \(O^{2'}(X_ 2)\) operate fixed point freely on \(O_ 2(X_ 2).\) Theorem 1. Assume Hypothesis A. Then one of the following holds (possibly after interchanging 1 and 2): (a) \(M_ i\simeq H\leq Aut(L_ 2(2^{n_ 1}))\), \(i=1,2\). (b) \(\{M_ 1,M_ 2\}\) is parabolic of type X for some X in \({\mathcal L}\). (c) \(\{M_ 1,M_ 2\}\) is parabolic of type J. (d) \(n_ 1>1\), \(O_ 2(M_ 1)\) is elementary abelian, \(M_ 1/O_ 2(M_ 1)\simeq H\leq Aut(L_ 2(2^{n_ 1}))\) and \(O_ 2(M_ 1)\) is isomorphic to a submodule of the natural permutation GF(2)-module for \(M_ 1/O_ 2(M_ 1)\); \(n_ 2=1\), \(M_ 2=N_{M_ 1}(S)W\) for \(S\in Syl_ 2(M_ 1\cap M_ 2)\) and a normal subgroup W of \(M_ 2\) which is isomorphic to \(\Sigma_ 3.\) Corollary 1. Assume Hypothesis A, and suppose that G is finite and \(M_ i=N_ G(O_ 2(M_ i))\) for \(i=1,2\). Then \(\{M_ 1,M_ 2\}\) is parabolic of type X for some \(X\in {\mathcal L}\), or \(G=M_ jO(G)\) for some \(j\in \{1,2\}.\) The main tool to prove Theorem 1 is Theorem 2 whose exact formulation is too long. Theorem 2 is concerned with Hypothesis B.