Group Actions, Orbits and Stabilizers

Orbits and Stabilizers

The orbit of an element x in S is the set of elements that x can be mapped onto via the action of G. Verify that orbit is symmetric and transitive, hence orbits partition the elements of S.

The stabilizing subgroup H(x) is the subgroup of G whose actions leave x fixed.

If a takes x to y and 1/a takes y to x, and H stabilizes x, then a*H/a stabilizes y. (Remember the backwards convention, apply a inverse, then H, then a.) Reverse this map to show stabilizing members for x and y corespond 1-1. The stabilizers for any two elements in the same orbit are isomorphic, via an inner automorphism on G. Conversely, the a-conjugate of the stabilizing subgroup of x stabilizes another element in the orbit of x, namely a(x).

For finite groups, |H|×|x| = |G|, where |x| is the size of the orbit of x.

If the stabilizer H is a normal subgroup of G, it is not changed by conjugation, hence it stabilizes everything in the orbit of x.