On the regularity number of a finite group and other base-related invariants

TL;DR

This paper introduces the concept of the regularity number of a finite group, develops methods to study it, and determines its exact value for various classes of groups, extending existing problems on base sizes.

Contribution

It defines the regularity number, provides methods for its analysis, and computes it for all almost simple groups with alternating or sporadic socles, extending prior conjectures.

Findings

R(S_n) = n-1

R(A_n) = n-2

R(G)  7 for sporadic groups

Abstract

A $k$-tuple $(H_1, \ldots, H_k)$ of core-free subgroups of a finite group $G$ is said to be regular if $G$ has a regular orbit on the Cartesian product $G/H_1 \times \cdots \times G/H_k$. The regularity number of $G$, denoted $R(G)$, is the smallest positive integer $k$ with the property that every such $k$-tuple is regular. In this paper, we develop some general methods for studying the regularity of subgroup tuples in arbitrary finite groups, and we determine the precise regularity number of all almost simple groups with an alternating or sporadic socle. For example, we prove that $R(S_n) = n-1$ and $R(A_n) = n-2$. We also formulate and investigate natural generalisations of several well-studied problems on base sizes for finite permutation groups, including conjectures due to Cameron, Pyber and Vdovin. For instance, we extend earlier work of Burness, O'Brien and Wilson by proving that $R(G) \leqslant 7$ for every almost simple sporadic group, with equality if and only if $G$ is the Mathieu group ${\rm M}_{24}$. We also show that every triple of soluble subgroups in an almost simple sporadic group is regular, which generalises recent work of Burness on base sizes for transitive actions of sporadic groups with soluble point stabilisers.