The character table of any finite group provides a considerable amount of information about a group and the use of character tables is of great importance in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. Most of the maximal subgroups of finite simple groups and their automorphisms are extensions of elementary abelian groups. Various techniques have been used to compute character tables, however Bernd Fischer came up with the most powerful and informative technique of calculating character tables of group extensions. This method is known as the Fischer-Clifford Theory and uses Fischer-Clifford matrices, as one of the tools, to compute character tables. This is derived from the Clifford theory. Here G is an extension of a group N by a finite group G, that is G = N.G. We then construct a non-singular matrix for each conjugacy class of G/N =G. These matrices, together with partial character tables of certain subgroups of G, known as the inertia groups, are used to compute the full character table of G. In this dissertation, we discuss Fischer-Clifford theory and apply it to both split and non-split extensions. We first, under the guidance of Dr Mpono, studied the group 27:S8 as a maximal subgroup of 27:SP(6,2), to familiarize ourselves to Fischer-Clifford theory. We then looked at 26:A8 and 28:O+8 (2) as maximal subgroups of 28:O+8 (2) and O+10(2) respectively and these were both split extensions. Split extensions have also been discussed quite extensively, for various groups, by different researchers in the past. We then turned our attention to non-split extensions. We started with 24.S6 and 25.S6 which were maximal subgroups of HS and HS:2 respectively. Except for some negative signs in the first column of the Fischer-Clifford matrices we used the Fisher-Clifford theory as it is. The Fischer-Clifford theory, is also applied to 53.L(3, 5), which is a maximal subgroup of the Lyon's group Ly. To be able to use the Fisher-Clifford theory we had to consider projective representations and characters of inertia factor groups. This is not a simple method and quite some smart computations were needed but we were able to determine the character table of 53.L(3,5). All character tables computed in this dissertation will be sent to GAP for incorporation. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

In this thesis, we present a new viewpoint of the universal minimal flow in the language of near ultrafilters. We apply this viewpoint to generalize results of Kechris, Pestov and Todorcevic about a connection between groups of automorphisms of structures and structural Ramsey theory from countable to uncountable structures. This allows us to provide new examples of explicit descriptions of universal minimal flows as well as of extremely amenable groups. We identify new classes of finite structures satisfying the Ramsey property and apply the result to the computation of the universal minimal flow of the group of automorphisms of $\P(\omega_1)/\fin$ as well as of certain closed subgroups of groups of homeomorphisms of Cantor cubes. We furthermore apply our theory to groups of isometries of metric spaces and the problem of unique amenability of topological groups. The theory combines tools from set theory, model theory, Ramsey theory, topological dynamics and ergodic theory, and homogeneous structures.

In this thesis, we present a new viewpoint of the universal minimal flow in the language of near ultrafilters. We apply this viewpoint to generalize results of Kechris, Pestov and Todorcevic about a connection between groups of automorphisms of structures and structural Ramsey theory from countable to uncountable structures. This allows us to provide new examples of explicit descriptions of universal minimal flows as well as of extremely amenable groups. We identify new classes of finite structures satisfying the Ramsey property and apply the result to the computation of the universal minimal flow of the group of automorphisms of $\P(\omega_1)/\fin$ as well as of certain closed subgroups of groups of homeomorphisms of Cantor cubes. We furthermore apply our theory to groups of isometries of metric spaces and the problem of unique amenability of topological groups. The theory combines tools from set theory, model theory, Ramsey theory, topological dynamics and ergodic theory, and homogeneous structures.

The Thompson groups $F, T$ and $V$ are important groups in geometric group theory: $T$ and $V$ being the first discovered examples of finitely presented infinite simple groups. There are many generalisations of these groups including, for $n$ and $r$ natural numbers and $1 < r < n$, the groups $F_{n}$, $T_{n,r}$ and $G_{n,r}$ ($T ≅ T_{2,1}$ and $V ≅ G_{2,1}$). Automorphisms of $F$ and $T$ were characterised in the seminal paper of Brin ([16]) and, later on, Brin and Guzman ([17]) investigate automorphisms of $T_{n, n-1}$ and $F_{n}$ for $n > 2$. However, their techniques give no information about automorphisms of $G_{n,r}$. The second chapter of this thesis is dedicated to characterising the automorphisms of $G_{n,r}$. Presenting results of the author's article [10], we show that automorphisms of $G_{n,r}$ are homeomorphisms of Cantor space induced by transducers (finite state machines) which satisfy a strong synchronizing condition. In the rest of Chapter 2 and early sections of Chapter 3 we investigate the group $\out{G_{n,r}}$ of outer automorphisms of $G_{n,r}$. Presenting results of the forthcoming article [6] of the author's, we show that there is a subgroup $\hn{n}$ of $\out{G_{n,r}}$, independent of $r$, which is isomorphic to the group of automorphisms of the one-sided shift dynamical system. Most of Chapter 3 is devoted to the order problem in $\hn{n}$ and is based on [44]. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for an element of $\hn{n}$ to have finite order, although these do not yield a decision procedure. Given an automorphism $\phi$ of a group $G$, two elements $f, g ∈ G$ are said to be $\phi$-twisted conjugate to one another if for some $h ∈ G$, $g = h−1 f (h)\phi$. This defines an equivalence relation on $G$ and $G$ is said to have the $\rfty$ property if it has infinitely many $\phi$-twisted conjugacy classes for all automorphisms $\phi ∈ \aut{G}$. In the final chapter we show, using the description of $\aut{G_{n,r}}$, that for certain automorphisms, $G_{n,r}$ has infinitely many twisted conjugacy classes. We also show that for certain $\phi ∈ \aut{G_{2,1}}$ the problem of deciding when two elements of $G_{2,1}$ are $\phi$-twisted conjugate to one another is soluble.

Un automorphisme non-symplectique d'ordre fini n sur une surface X de type K3 est un automorphisme σ ∈ Aut(X) qui satisfait σ*(ω) = λω où λ est une racine primitive n-ième de l'unité et ω est le générateur de H2,0(X). Dans cette thèse on s’intéresse aux automorphismes non-symplectiques d'ordre 8 et 16 sur les surfaces K3. Dans un premier temps, nous classifionsles automorphismes non-symplectiques σ d'ordre 8 quand le lieu fixe de sa quatrième puissance σ⁴ contient une courbe de genre positif, on montre plus précisément que le genre de la courbe fixée par σ est au plus un. Ensuite nous étudions le cas où le lieu fixe de σ contient au moins une courbe et toutes les courbes fixées par sa quatrième puissance σ⁴ sont rationnelles. Enfin nous étudions le cas où σ et son carré σ² agissent trivialement sur le groupe de Néron-Severi. Nous classifions toutes les possibilités pour le lieu fixe de σ et de son carré σ² dans ces trois cas. Nous obtenons la classification complète pour les automorphismes non-symplectiques d'ordre 8 sur les surfaces K3. Dans la deuxième partie de la thèse, nous classifions les surfaces K3 avec automorphisme non-symplectique d'ordre 16 en toute généralité. Nous montrons que le lieu fixe contient seulement courbes rationnelles et points isolés et nous classifions complètement les sept configurations possibles. Si le groupe de Néron-Severi a rang 6, alors il y a deux possibilités et si son rang est 14, il y a cinq possibilités. En particulier si l'action de l'automorphisme est trivial sur le groupe de Néron-Severi, alors nous montrons que son rang est six. Enfin, nous construisons des exemples qui correspondent à plusieurs cas dans la classification des automorphismes non-symplectiques d'ordre 8 et nous donnons des exemples pour chaque cas dans la classification des automorphismes non-symplectiques d'ordre 16. / A non-symplectic automorphism of finite order n on a K3 surface X is an automorphism σ ∈ Aut(X) that satisfies σ*(ω) = λω where λ is a primitive n−root of the unity and ω is a generator of H2,0(X). In this thesis we study the non-symplectic automorphisms of order 8 and 16 on K3 surfaces. First we classify the non-symplectic automorphisms σ of order eight when the fixed locus of its fourth power σ⁴ contains a curve of positive genus, we show more precisely that the genus of the fixed curve by σ is at most one. Then we study the case of the fixed locus of σ that contains at least a curve and all the curves fixed by its fourth power σ⁴ are rational. Finally we study the case when σ and its square σ² act trivially on the Néron-Severi group. We classify all the possibilities for the fixed locus of σ and σ² in these three cases. We obtain a complete classifiction for the non-symplectic automorphisms of order 8 on a K3 surfaces.In the second part of the thesis, we classify K3 surfaces with non-symplectic automorphism of order 16 in full generality. We show that the fixed locus contains only rational curves and isolated points and we completely classify the seven possible configurations. If the Néron-Severi group has rank 6, there are two possibilities and if its rank is 14, there are five possibilities. In particular ifthe action of the automorphism is trivial on the Néron-Severi group, then we show that its rank is six.Finally, we construct several examples corresponding to several cases in the classification of the non-symplectic automorphisms of order 8 and we give an example for each case in the classification of the non-symplectic automorphisms of order 16.

Soient k un corps algébriquement clos de caractéristique p > 0 et C/k une courbe projective, lisse, intègre de genre g > 1 munie d’un p-groupe d’automorphismes G tel que |G| > 2p/(p-1)g. Le couple (C,G) est appelé grosse action. Si (C,G) est une grosse action, alors |G| <=4p/(p-1)^2g^2 (*). Dans cette thèse, nous étudions les répercussions arithmétiques des propriétés géométriques de grosses actions. Nous étudions d’abord l’arithmétique de l’extension de monodromie sauvage maximale de courbes sur un corps local K d’inégale caractéristique p à corps résiduel algébriquement clos, de genre arbitrairement grand ayant pour potentielle bonne réduction une grosse action satisfaisant le cas d’égalité de (*). On étudie en particulier les conducteurs de Swan attachés à ces courbes. Nous donnons ensuite les premiers exemples, à notre connaissance, de grosses actions (C,G) telles que le groupe dérivé D(G) soit non abélien. Ces courbes sont obtenues comme revêtements de S-corps de classes de rayons de P1(Fq) pour S non vide un sous-ensemble fini de P1(Fq). Enfin, on donne une méthode de calcul des S-corps de classes de Hilbert de revêtements abéliens de la droite projective d’exposant p et supersinguliers que l’on illustre pour des courbes de Deligne-Lusztig. / Let k be an algebraically closed field of characteristic p > 0 and C/k be a projective,smooth, integral curve of genus g > 1 endowed with a p-group of automorphisms G such that |G| > 2p/(p-1)g. The pair (C,G) is called big action. If (C,G) is a big action, then |G|<=4p/(p-1)^2g^2 (*). In this thesis, one studies arithmetical repercussions of geometric properties of big actions. One studies the arithmetic of the maximal wild monodromy extension of curves over a local field K of mixed characteristic p with algebraically closed residue field, with arbitrarily high genus having for potential good reduction a big action achieving equality in (*). One studies the associated Swan conductors. Then, one gives the first examples, to our knowledge, of big actions (C,G) with non abelian derived group D(G). These curves are obtained as coverings of S-ray class fields of P1(Fq) where S is a finite non empty subset of P1(Fq). Finally, one describes a method to compute S-Hilbert class fields of supersingular abelian covers of the projective line having exponent p and one illustrates it for some Deligne-Lusztig curves.

Suppose a group G can be generated by two subgroups, P1 and P2, both isomorphic to S4 which have intersection isomorphic to D8- the dihedral group of order 8. Then G is known as a faithful completion of the Goldschmidt G3-amalgam. In this thesis we consider the alternating groups as faithful completions of the Goldschmidt G3-amalgam.

Dans cette thèse, nous construisons des pavages de la droite réelle et du demi-plan hyperbolique à l’aide de représentants efficaces d’automorphismes IWIP du groupe libre Fn. Dans un premier temps, nous utilisons la substitution définie par P. Arnoux, V. Berthé, A. Siegel, A. Hilion associée à un représentant efficace d’un automorphisme IWIP pour générer des espaces de pavages substitutifs apériodiques de la droite réelle. Nous montrons, en nous servant d’un théorème de connexité des représentants efficaces d’automorphismes IWIP dû à J. Los, que le type topologique de ces espaces de pavages est indépendant du choix du représentant. Nous associons ainsi, à homéomorphisme près, un espace de pavages de la droite réelle à une classe d’automorphisme externe IWIP de Fn, puis à une classe de conjugaison d’un élément IWIP dans Out(Fn). D’autre part, nous construisons à partir des éléments de l’espace de pavage de la droite réelle précédemment construits des pavages faiblement apériodiques pour le groupe des transformations affines du demi-plan hyperbolique. Nous étudions les propriétés topologiques et dynamiques de ces espaces de pavages du plan hyperbolique. Enfin, dans une dernière partie, nous montrons que les espaces de pavages précédemment construits peuvent être munis d’une structure lisse en se servant de leur structure de limite projective. / In this thesis, we construct tilings of the real line and the hyperbolic half-plane using train-track maps of IWIP free group automorphisms. One the one hand, we use a substitution defined by P. Arnoux, V. Berthé, A. Siegel, A. Hilion coming from a train-track map of a IWIP free group automorphism to generate substitutive aperiodic tilings of the real line. We show, thanks to a theorem of J. Los about connectivity of train-track representatives of an IWIP automorphism, that the topological type of those tiling spaces is the same up to a choice of train-track representative. Thus we associate, up to an homeomorphism, a tiling space of the real line to a class of an IWIP outer automorphism of Fn, then we extend this result to a conjugacy class of an IWIP element in Out(Fn). On the other hand, we construct from elements of tiling spaces of the real line previously defined, a set of weakly aperiodic for the affine group tilings of the hyperbolic half-plane. We study topological et dynamical properties of the tiling space generated by those hyperbolic tilings. Finally, in the last section we endow tiling spaces previously constructed with a smooth structure thanks to their inverse limit structure.

We model hyperbolic toral automorphisms by two types of Smale spaces; shifts of finite type and substitution tilings spaces. Smale spaces are dynamical systems with local hyperbolic product structure. In 1970, Bowen showed that an irreducible Smale space is a factor of a shift of finite type by showing that it has Markov partitions. Putnam extended Bowen's theorem by showing that every irreducible Smale space has a factor map that can be split into a s-bijective and u-bijective map; thereby better modelling a Smale space on its characterizing expanding and contracting spaces separately. In this thesis, we define two new constructions of Markov partitions for hyperbolic toral automorphisms inspired by the work of Adler, Weiss, and Praggastis. With one of the constructions, we investigate when a factor map from a shift of finite type to a hyperbolic toral automorphism can be written as a composition of a s-bijective and u-bijective map and we show that if such a splitting exists then the Markov partition must satisfy a Border Continuity condition. The second construction can be thought of as an explicit example of Putnam's theorem for the case of hyperbolic toral automorphisms whose defining matrix is in dimension 2 and has positive entries. We define a full splitting for all such hyperbolic toral automorphisms with one exception; the Arnold Cat map. / Graduate

This licentiate thesis consists of two papers about topics related to representation stability for different automorphisms groups of topological spaces and manifolds. In Paper I, we study the rational homology groups of \textit{Torelli groups} of smooth, compact and orientable surfaces. The Torelli group of a smooth surface is the group of isotopy classes of orientation preserving diffeomorphisms that act trivially on the first homology group of the surface. In the paper, we study a certain class of stable homology classes, i.e. classes that exist for sufficiently large genus, and explicitly describe the image of these classes under a higher degree version of the \textit{Johnson homomorphism}, as a representation of the symplectic group. This gives a lower bound on the dimension of the stable homology of the group, as well as providing some further evidence that these homology groups satisfy representation stability for symplectic groups, in the sense of Church and Farb. In Paper II, we study pointed homotopy automorphisms of iterated wedge sums of spaces as well as boundary relative homotopy automorphisms of iterated connected sums of manifolds with a disk removed. We prove that the rational homotopy groups of these, for simply connected CW-complexes and closed manifolds respectively,  satisfy representation stability for symmetric groups, in the sense of Church and Farb.