Related papers: Flag-transitive block designs with prime replicati…

If $G$ is a finite group and $k =q>2$ or $k=q+1$ for a prime power $q$ then, for infinitely many integers $v$, there is a $2$-$(v,k,1)$-design ${\bf D}$ for which ${\rm Aut} {\bf D}\cong G$.

A new infinite family of bipartite cubic 3-arc transitive graphs is constructed and studied. They provide the first known examples admitting a 2-arc transitive vertex-biquasiprimitive group of automorphisms for which the index two subgroup…

In this paper, we study 2-geodesic-transitive graphs of order twice an odd prime power. Classifications of corresponding basic graphs and such graphs with almost simple automorphism groups are given, and a reduction theorem for general case…

In this paper, we examine the structure of vertex- and edge-transitive strongly regular graphs, using normal quotient reduction. We show that the irreducible graphs in this family have quasiprimitive automorphism groups, and prove (using…

We show that if G is a group of automorphisms of a thick finite generalised quadrangle Q acting primitively on both the points and lines of Q, then G is almost simple. Moreover, if G is also flag-transitive then G is of Lie type.

We prove that a uniquely 2-divisible group that admits an almost regular involutory automorphism is solvable.

Group action is a standard approach to obtain $t$-designs. In this approach, selecting a specific permutation group with a certain degree of transitivity or homogeneity and a proper set of base blocks is important for obtaining $t$-$(v, k,…

The classification of flag-transitive generalised quadrangles is a long-standing open problem at the interface of finite geometry and permutation group theory. Given that all known flag-transitive generalised quadrangles are also…

We study point-block incidence structures $(\mathcal{P},\mathcal{B})$ for which the point set $\mathcal{P}$ is an $m\times n$ grid. Cameron and the fourth author showed that each block $B$ may be viewed as a subgraph of a complete bipartite…

We prove that every finite arc-transitive graph of valency twice a prime admits a nontrivial semiregular automorphism, that is, a non-identity automorphism whose cycles all have the same length. This is a special case of the Polycirculant…

In this article, we study symmetric $(v, k, \lambda)$ designs admitting a flag-transitive and point-primitive automorphism group $G$ whose socle is $PSU_{4}(q)$. We prove that there exist eight non-isomorphic such designs for which…

In this article, we study symmetric $(v, k, \lambda)$ designs admitting a flag-transitive and point-primitive automorphism group $G$ whose socle is a projective special unitary group of dimension at most five. We, in particular, determine…

More than $30$ years ago, Delandtsheer and Doyen showed that the automorphism group of a block-transitive $2$-design, with blocks of size $k$, could leave invariant a nontrivial point-partition, but only if the number of points was bounded…

In this note, we complete the classification of extremal doubly even self-dual codes with 2-transitive automorphism groups.

Let $G$ be a transitive permutation group of degree $n$. We say that $G$ is $2'$-elusive if $n$ is divisible by an odd prime, but $G$ does not contain a derangement of odd prime order. In this paper we study the structure of quasiprimitive…

The sets of primitive, quasiprimitive, and innately transitive permutation groups may each be regarded as the building blocks of finite transitive permutation groups, and are analogues of composition factors for abstract finite groups. This…

We study vertex-quasiprimitive $2$-arc-transitive digraphs, reducing the problem of vertex-primitive $2$-arc-transitive digraphs to almost simple groups. This includes a complete classification of vertex-quasiprimitive $2$-arc-transitive…

We determine all factorisations $X=AB$, where $X$ is a finite almost simple group and $A,B$ are core-free subgroups such that $A\cap B$ is cyclic or dihedral. As a main application, we classify the graphs $\Gamma$ admitting an almost simple…

We classify the regular maps $\mathcal M$ which have automorphism groups $G$ acting faithfully and primitively on their vertices. As a permutation group $G$ must be of almost simple or affine type, with dihedral point stabilisers. We show…

Let G be an automorphism group of a nontrivial t-(k^2,k,\lambda) design. In this paper, we prove that if G is block-transitive, then the socle of G cannot be a finite simple exceptional group of Lie type.