Type systems and maximal subgroups of Thompson's group V

James Belk, Collin Bleak, Martyn Quick, Rachel Skipper*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We introduce the concept of a type system P, that is, a partition on the set of finite words over the alphabet {0, 1} compatible with the partial action of Thompson’s group V, and associate a subgroup StabV(P) of V. We classify the finite simple type systems and show that the stabilizers of various simple type systems, including all finite simple type systems, are maximal subgroups of V. We also find an uncountable family of pairwise nonisomorphic maximal subgroups of V. These maximal subgroups occur as stabilizers of infinite simple type systems and have not been described in previous literature: specifically, they do not arise as stabilizers in V of finite sets of points in Cantor space. Finally, we show that two natural conditions on subgroups of V (both related to primitivity) are each satisfied only by V itself, giving new ways to recognise when a subgroup of V is not actually proper.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)417-469
Number of pages53
JournalTransactions of the American Mathematical Society, Series B
Volume12
Issue number15
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2025

Keywords

  • Thompson's groups
  • Thompson's group V
  • Maximal subgroups
  • Infinite simple groups
  • Primitive groups
  • Type systems

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