Expanders in group algebras (Q812790)

Let \(G\) be a finite group and \(p\) be a prime such that \((p,| G| )=1\). The authors study conditions under which the abelian group \({\mathbb F}_p[G]\) has a few \(G\)-orbits whose union generate it as an expander. (Or equivalently, all the discrete Fourier coefficients of this generating set are bounded away uniformly from one.) A nearly sharp bound on the distribution of dimensions of irreducible representations of \(G\) is proved which implies the existence of such expanding orbits. A class of groups is also shown for which such a bound follows from the expansion properties of \(G\). Together, these lead to a new iterative construction of expanding Cayley graphs of nearly constant degree.