# conjugacy action of a subgroup of a finite group on the lattice of subgroup in GAP

Let $G$ be a finite group with the lattice of subgroups ${\mathcal L}(G)$ and let $H$ be a subgroup of $G$, which acts on ${\mathcal L}(G)$ by conjugation. That is for each $h\in H$ and each $T\in {\mathcal L}(G)$, define $T.h:=h^{-1}Th$ . How could we determine this action in a GAP code and compute the orbits of this action? (For example let $G:=S_4$, the symmetric group on four letters
and $H:= A_4$, the alternating group on four letters).

Any answer will be greatly appreciated!

You first get the subgroups of $G$ in a list, for example from the conjugacy classes of subgroups

gap> G:=SymmetricGroup(4);;H:=AlternatingGroup(4);;
gap> subs:=Concatenation(List(ConjugacyClassesSubgroups(G),AsList));;


The action by conjugation is by the ^ operator, so

gap> Orbits(H,subs);
[ [ Group(()) ],
[ Group([ (3,4) ]), Group([ (1,4) ]), Group([ (2,4) ]), Group([ (1,2) ]),
Group([ (2,3) ]), Group([ (1,3) ]) ], [...]


gives you the orbits. Similarly Action (or ActionHomomorphism) gives you the permutation action image.

• Wouldn't $\mathtt{subs:=AllSubgroups(G);}$ have the same effect as your assignment? – Derek Holt May 1 '17 at 14:40
• @DerekHolt Yes, it would. But knowing where the list comes from might help to reduce the problem if there are 100000s of subgroups. – ahulpke May 1 '17 at 16:35
• Dear Professor Alexander Hulpke, thank you very much for your contribution and exact answer! – sebastian May 2 '17 at 6:24