I am reading this paper where the object $C_4\times C_2 : C_2$ is used as a group structure. I know that $C_n$ is a cyclic group but don't know what kind of operation between groups is identified by the symbol "$:$". Does anyone know about that? Thanks to everyone for the help.
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$\begingroup$ This paper : worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0219498816501759 $\endgroup$– N mathFeb 23, 2020 at 11:47
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2$\begingroup$ As noted in the answer below, it's semidirect product, but does not specify which one. This list of groups of order 16 might be helpful: people.maths.bris.ac.uk/~matyd/GroupNames/index.html#order16 The "aliases" feature is particularly useful. $\endgroup$– Henri JohnstonFeb 23, 2020 at 18:48
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$\begingroup$ @Henri Johnston Thanks for the link. $\endgroup$– N mathFeb 25, 2020 at 9:05
1 Answer
The colon means "semidirect product", but it does not specify which semidirect product. This notation is a concise shorthand that gives important structural information without necessarily uniquely specifying the group. You can read more about similar notation conventions in the introduction to the ATLAS of finite groups.