nLab
normalizer

Context

Mathematics

Group Theory

Given a subset S of a group G, its normalizer N(S)=N G(S) is the subgroup of G consisting of all elements gG such that gS=Sg, i.e. for each sS there is sS such that gs=sg. If S is itself a subgroup, then S is a normal subgroup of N G(S); moreover N G(S) is the largest subgroup of G such that S is a normal subgroup of it. Of course, if S is itself a normal subgroup of G, then its normalizer coincides with the whole of G.

Each group G embeds into the symmetric group Sym(G) on the underlying set of G by the left regular representation gl g where l g(h)=gh. The image is isomorphic to G (that is, the left regular representation of a discrete group is faithful). The normalizer of the image of G in Sym(G) is called the holomorph. This solves the elementary problem of embedding a group into a bigger group K in which every automorphism of G is obtained by restricting (to G) an inner automorphism of K that fixes G as a subset of K.

Revised on March 11, 2013 15:02:29 by Andrew Stacey (92.21.167.146)