Definition:Automorphism Group/Group
Definition
Let $\struct {S, *}$ be an algebraic structure.
Let $\mathbb S$ be the set of automorphisms of $S$.
Then the algebraic structure $\struct {\mathbb S, \circ}$, where $\circ$ denotes composition of mappings, is called the automorphism group of $S$.
The structure $\struct {S, *}$ is usually a group. However, this is not necessary for this definition to be valid.
The automorphism group of $S$ is denoted on $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ as $\Aut S$.
Also known as
The automorphism group is also known as the group of automorphisms.
The automorphism group of $S$ can be found denoted in a number of ways, for example:
- $\map {\mathscr A} S$
- $\map A S$
Examples
Cyclic Group $C_3$
Consider the cyclic group $C_3$, which can be presented as its Cayley table:
- $\begin{array}{r|rrr} \struct {\Z_3, +_3} & \eqclass 0 3 & \eqclass 1 3 & \eqclass 2 3 \\ \hline \eqclass 0 3 & \eqclass 0 3 & \eqclass 1 3 & \eqclass 2 3 \\ \eqclass 1 3 & \eqclass 1 3 & \eqclass 2 3 & \eqclass 0 0 \\ \eqclass 2 3 & \eqclass 2 3 & \eqclass 0 3 & \eqclass 1 3 \\ \end{array}$
The automorphism group of $C_3$ is given by:
- $\Aut {C_3} = \set {\phi, \theta}$
where $\phi$ and $\theta$ are defined as:
\(\ds \map \phi {\eqclass 0 3}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \eqclass 0 3\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \map \phi {\eqclass 1 3}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \eqclass 1 3\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \map \phi {\eqclass 2 3}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \eqclass 2 3\) |
\(\ds \map \theta {\eqclass 0 3}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \eqclass 0 3\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \map \theta {\eqclass 1 3}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \eqclass 2 3\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \map \theta {\eqclass 2 3}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \eqclass 1 3\) |
The Cayley table of $\Aut {C_3}$ is then:
- $\begin{array}{r|rr} & \phi & \theta \\ \hline \phi & \phi & \theta \\ \theta & \theta & \phi \\ \end{array}$
Cyclic Group $C_8$
The automorphism group of the cyclic group $C_8$ is the Klein $4$-group.
Also see
- Automorphism Group is Subgroup of Symmetric Group, where it is also demonstrated that $\Aut S$ is actually a group.
- Results about automorphism groups can be found here.
Sources
- 1971: Allan Clark: Elements of Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $2$: Group Homomorphism and Isomorphism: $\S 64 \alpha$
- 1974: Thomas W. Hungerford: Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 1.2$
- 1978: Thomas A. Whitelaw: An Introduction to Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $8$: Homomorphisms, Normal Subgroups and Quotient Groups: Exercise $24$
- 1996: John F. Humphreys: A Course in Group Theory ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $8$: The Homomorphism Theorem: Proposition $8.11$