Symmetries of regular $q$-graphs

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Hawtin, Daniel R, Catháin, Padraig Ó
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Hawtin, Daniel R
Catháin, Padraig Ó
author_facet Hawtin, Daniel R
Catháin, Padraig Ó
contents Given a finite vector space $V=\mathbb{F}_q^n$, the $q$-analogue of a graph, called a $q$-graph, is a pair $Γ=(\mathcal{V},\mathcal{E})$, where $\mathcal{V}$ is the set of $1$-dimensional subspaces of $V$ and $\mathcal{E}$ is a subset of the $2$-dimensional subspaces of $V$. Elements of $\mathcal{V}$ and $\mathcal{E}$ are called vertices and edges, respectively. If the edges through a vertex $X$ consist of all $2$-spaces of a $(k+1)$-dimensional space which contain $X$, regardless of the choice of vertex, then $Γ$ is $k$-regular. Moreover, $Γ$ is flag-transitive if there is a subgroup of $Γ{\rm L}_n(q)$ preserving $\mathcal{E}$ and acting transitively on the set of all incident vertex-edge pairs; and symmetric if there is a subgroup of $Γ{\rm L}_n(q)$ preserving $\mathcal{E}$ and acting transitively on the set of all ordered pairs of adjacent vertices. This paper classifies all $k$-regular $q$-graphs that are either flag-transitive or symmetric. The $q$-graphs in the classification are constructed from familiar objects in finite geometry, including spreads, symplectic polar spaces, and generalised hexagons. The classification depends essentially on the classification of transitive linear groups, and thus ultimately on the classification of finite simple groups.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_22148
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Symmetries of regular $q$-graphs
Hawtin, Daniel R
Catháin, Padraig Ó
Combinatorics
05E18 (Primary) 05B25 (Secondary)
Given a finite vector space $V=\mathbb{F}_q^n$, the $q$-analogue of a graph, called a $q$-graph, is a pair $Γ=(\mathcal{V},\mathcal{E})$, where $\mathcal{V}$ is the set of $1$-dimensional subspaces of $V$ and $\mathcal{E}$ is a subset of the $2$-dimensional subspaces of $V$. Elements of $\mathcal{V}$ and $\mathcal{E}$ are called vertices and edges, respectively. If the edges through a vertex $X$ consist of all $2$-spaces of a $(k+1)$-dimensional space which contain $X$, regardless of the choice of vertex, then $Γ$ is $k$-regular. Moreover, $Γ$ is flag-transitive if there is a subgroup of $Γ{\rm L}_n(q)$ preserving $\mathcal{E}$ and acting transitively on the set of all incident vertex-edge pairs; and symmetric if there is a subgroup of $Γ{\rm L}_n(q)$ preserving $\mathcal{E}$ and acting transitively on the set of all ordered pairs of adjacent vertices. This paper classifies all $k$-regular $q$-graphs that are either flag-transitive or symmetric. The $q$-graphs in the classification are constructed from familiar objects in finite geometry, including spreads, symplectic polar spaces, and generalised hexagons. The classification depends essentially on the classification of transitive linear groups, and thus ultimately on the classification of finite simple groups.
title Symmetries of regular $q$-graphs
topic Combinatorics
05E18 (Primary) 05B25 (Secondary)
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.22148