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Probabilistic group theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2010

Aner Shalev
Affiliation:
Institute of Mathematics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
C. M. Campbell
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
E. F. Robertson
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
N. Ruskuc
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
G. C. Smith
Affiliation:
University of Bath
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Summary

Abstract

In recent years there have been several developments in the study of probabilistic aspects of certain finite and profinite groups, and various conjectures in this field were settled. Moreover, the probabilistic approach led to the solution of interesting problems whose formulation had nothing to do with probability; these include problems regarding the modular group, free groups, as well as conjectures on finite permutation groups. In this lecture series I will try to survey these developments and discuss directions for further research.

Contents:

  1. Finite simple groups: random generation

  2. Applications: free groups, the modular group, symmetric groups

  3. Profinite groups I: Hausdorff dimension

  4. Profinite groups II: random generation

  5. Permutation groups: minimal degree, genus, base size

Finite simple groups: random generation

Group theory and measure theory seem to intersect highly non-trivially, and so there are many branches in mathematics which could be referred to as probabilistic group theory. In this lecture series I would like to focus on a relatively young area, which concerns probabilistic aspects of finite groups and their inverse limits. I shall also demonstrate how probabilistic ideas can be used to solve classical problems in finite and infinite groups.

A classical scheme, applied successfully in combinatorics, number theory, and other areas, is to prove existence theorems using a probabilistic approach. The idea is to show that most objects have a certain property, and then to deduce that an object with that property exists.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1999

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  • Probabilistic group theory
    • By Aner Shalev, Institute of Mathematics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
  • Edited by C. M. Campbell, University of St Andrews, Scotland, E. F. Robertson, University of St Andrews, Scotland, N. Ruskuc, University of St Andrews, Scotland, G. C. Smith, University of Bath
  • Book: Groups St Andrews 1997 in Bath
  • Online publication: 04 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511666148.028
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  • Probabilistic group theory
    • By Aner Shalev, Institute of Mathematics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
  • Edited by C. M. Campbell, University of St Andrews, Scotland, E. F. Robertson, University of St Andrews, Scotland, N. Ruskuc, University of St Andrews, Scotland, G. C. Smith, University of Bath
  • Book: Groups St Andrews 1997 in Bath
  • Online publication: 04 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511666148.028
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Probabilistic group theory
    • By Aner Shalev, Institute of Mathematics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
  • Edited by C. M. Campbell, University of St Andrews, Scotland, E. F. Robertson, University of St Andrews, Scotland, N. Ruskuc, University of St Andrews, Scotland, G. C. Smith, University of Bath
  • Book: Groups St Andrews 1997 in Bath
  • Online publication: 04 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511666148.028
Available formats
×