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8 Orbit enumeration by suborbits
8.1 `OrbitBySuborbits` and its resulting objects
8.1-1 OrbitBySuborbit
8.1-2 OrbitBySuborbitKnownSize
8.1-3 Size
8.1-4 Seed
8.1-5 SuborbitsDb
8.1-6 WordsToSuborbits
8.1-7 Memory
8.1-8 Stabilizer
8.1-9 StabWords
8.1-10 SavingFactor
8.1-11 TotalLength
8.1-12 Representatives
8.1-13 SavingFactor
8.1-14 OrigSeed
8.2 Preparation functions for `OrbitBySuborbit` (8.1-1)
8.2-1 OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForVectors
8.2-2 OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForLines
8.2-3 OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForSpaces
8.3 Data structures for orbit-by-suborbits
8.3-1 IsOrbitBySuborbitSetup
8.3-2 The global record `ORB`
8.4 Lists of orbit-by-suborbit objects
8.4-1 InitOrbitBySuborbitList
8.4-2 IsVectorInOrbitBySuborbitList
8.4-3 OrbitsFromSeedsToOrbitList
8.4-4 VerifyDisjointness
8.4-5 Memory
8.4-6 TotalLength
8.4-7 Size
8.4-8 SavingFactor

### 8 Orbit enumeration by suborbits

The code described in this chapter is quite complicated and one has to understand quite a lot of theory to use it. The reason for this is that a lot of preparatory data has to be found and supplied by the user in order for this code to run at all. Also the situations in which it can be used are quite special. However, in such a situation, the user is rewarded with impressive performance.

The main reference for the theory is [MNW07]. We briefly recall the basic setup: Let G be a group acting from the right on some set X. Let k be a natural number, set X_{k+1} := X, and let

U_1 < U_2 < \cdots < U_k < U_{{k+1}} = G

be a chain of "helper" subgroups. Further, for 1 le i le k let X_i be a U_i set and let pi_i : X_{i+1} -> X_i be a homomorphism of U_i-sets.

This chapter starts with a section about the main orbit enumeration function and the corresponding preparation functions. It then proceeds with a section on the used data structures, which will necessarily be rather technical. Finally, the chapter concludes with a section on higher level data structures like lists of orbit-by-suborbit objects and their administration. Note that there are quite a few examples in Chapter 10.

#### 8.1 `OrbitBySuborbits` and its resulting objects

##### 8.1-1 OrbitBySuborbit

`> OrbitBySuborbit`( setup, p, j, l, i, percentage ) | ( function )

Returns: an orbit-by-suborbit object

This is the main function in the whole business. All notations from the beginning of this Chapter 8 remain in place. The argument setup must be a setup record lying in the filter `IsOrbitBySuborbitSetup` (8.3-1) described in detail in Section 8.3 and produced for example by `OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForVectors` (8.2-1) or `OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForLines` (8.2-2) described below. In particular, it contains all the generators for G and the helper subgroups acting on the various sets. The argument p must be the starting point of the orbit. Note that the function possibly does not take p itself as starting point but rather its U_k-minimalisation, which is a point in the same U_k-orbit as p. This information is important for the resulting stabiliser and words representing the U_k-suborbits.

The integers j, l, and i, for which k+1 ge j ge l > i ge 1 must hold, determine the running mode. j indicates in which set X_j the point p lies and thus in which set the orbit enumeration takes place, with j=k+1 indicating the original set X. The value l indicates which group to use for orbit enumeration. So the result will be a U_l orbit, with l=k+1 indicating a G-orbit. Finally, the value i indicates which group to use for the "by suborbit" part, that is, the orbit will be enumerated "by U_i-orbits". Note that nearly all possible combinations of these parameters actually occur, because this function is also used in the "on-the-fly" precomputation happening behind the scenes. The most common usage of this function for the user is j=l=k+1 and i=k.

Finally, the integer percentage says, how much of the full orbit should be enumerated, the value is in percent, thus 100 means the full orbit. Usually, only values greater than 50 are sensible, because one can only prove the size of the orbit after enumerating at least half of it.

The result is an "orbit-by-suborbit" object. For such an object in particular the operations `Size` (8.1-3), `Seed` (8.1-4), `SuborbitsDb` (8.1-5), `WordsToSuborbits` (8.1-6), `Memory` (8.1-7), `Stabilizer` (8.1-8), and `Seed` (8.1-4) are defined, see below.

##### 8.1-2 OrbitBySuborbitKnownSize

`> OrbitBySuborbitKnownSize`( setup, p, j, l, i, percentage, knownsize ) | ( function )

Returns: an orbit-by-suborbit object

Basically does the same as `OrbitBySuborbit` (8.1-1) but does not compute the stabiliser by evaluating Schreier words. Instead, the size of the orbit to enumerate must already be known and be given in the argument knownsize. The other arguments are as for the function `OrbitBySuborbit` (8.1-1).

##### 8.1-3 Size

`> Size`( orb ) | ( method )

Returns: an integer

Returns the number of points in the orbit-by-suborbit orb.

##### 8.1-4 Seed

`> Seed`( orb ) | ( method )

Returns: a point in the orbit

Returns the starting point of the orbit-by-suborbit orb. It is the U_i-minimalisation of the starting point given to `OrbitBySuborbit` (8.1-1).

##### 8.1-5 SuborbitsDb

`> SuborbitsDb`( orb ) | ( operation )

Returns: a database of suborbits

Returns the data base of suborbits of the orbit-by-suborbit object orb. In particular, such a database object has methods for the operations `Memory` (8.1-7), `TotalLength` (8.1-11), and `Representatives` (8.1-12). For descriptions see below.

##### 8.1-6 WordsToSuborbits

`> WordsToSuborbits`( orb ) | ( operation )

Returns: a list of words

Returns a list of words in the groups U_* reaching each of the suborbits in the orbit-by-suborbit orb. Here a word is a list of integers. Positive numbers index generators in following numbering: The first few numbers are numbers of generators of U_1 the next few adjacent numbers index the generators of U_2 and so on until the generators of G in the end. Negative numbers indicate the corresponding inverses of these generators.

Note that `OrbitBySuborbit` (8.1-1) takes the U_i-minimalisation of the starting point as its starting point and the words here are all relative to this new starting point.

##### 8.1-7 Memory

`> Memory`( ob ) | ( operation )

Returns: an integer

Returns the amount of memory needed by the object ob, which can be either an orbit-by-suborbit object, a suborbit database object, or an object in the filter `IsOrbitBySuborbitSetup` (8.3-1). The amount of memory used is given in bytes. Note that this includes all hashes, databases, and preparatory data of substantial size. For orbit-by-suborbits the memory needed for the precomputation is not included, ask the setup object for that.

##### 8.1-8 Stabilizer

`> Stabilizer`( orb ) | ( method )

Returns: a permutation group

Returns the stabiliser of the starting point of the orbit-by-suborbit in orb in form of a permutation group, using the given faithful permutation representation in the setup record.

Note that `OrbitBySuborbit` (8.1-1) takes the U_i-minimalisation of the starting point as its starting point and the stabiliser returned here is the one of this new starting point.

##### 8.1-9 StabWords

`> StabWords`( orb ) | ( operation )

Returns: a list of words

Returns generators for the stabiliser of the starting point of the orbit-by-suborbit in orb in form of words as described with the operation `WordsToSuborbits` (8.1-6). Note again that `OrbitBySuborbit` (8.1-1) takes the U_i-minimalisation of the starting point as its starting point and the stabiliser returned here is the one of this new starting point.

##### 8.1-10 SavingFactor

`> SavingFactor`( orb ) | ( operation )

Returns: an integer

Returns the quotient of the total number of points stored in the orbit-by-suborbit orb and the total number of U-minimal points stored. Note that the memory for the precomputations is not considered here!

The following operations apply to orbit-by-suborbit database objects:

##### 8.1-11 TotalLength

`> TotalLength`( db ) | ( operation )

Returns: an integer

Returns the total number of points stored in all suborbits in the orbit-by-suborbit database db.

##### 8.1-12 Representatives

`> Representatives`( db ) | ( operation )

Returns: a list of points

Returns a list of representatives of the suborbits stored in the orbit-by-suborbit database db.

##### 8.1-13 SavingFactor

`> SavingFactor`( db ) | ( operation )

Returns: an integer

Returns the quotient of the total number of points stored in the suborbit database db and the total number of U-minimal points stored. Note that the memory for the precomputations is not considered here!

##### 8.1-14 OrigSeed

`> OrigSeed`( orb ) | ( operation )

Returns: a point

Returns the original starting point for the orbit, not yet minimalised.

#### 8.2 Preparation functions for `OrbitBySuborbit` (8.1-1)

##### 8.2-1 OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForVectors

`> OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForVectors`( gens, permgens, sizes, codims, opt ) | ( function )

Returns: a setup record in the filter `IsOrbitBySuborbitSetup` (8.3-1)

All notations from the beginning of this Chapter 8 remain in place. This function is for the action of matrices on row vectors, so all generators must be matrices. The set X thus is a row space usually over a finite field and the sets X_i are quotient spaces. The matrix generators for the various groups have to be adjusted with a base change, such that the canonical projection onto X_i is just to take the first few entries in a vector, which means, that the submodules divided out are generated by the last standard basis vectors.

The first argument gens must be a list of lists of generators. The outer list must have length k+1 with entry i being a list of matrices generating U_i, given in the action on X=X_{k+1}. The above mentioned base change must have been done. The second argument permgens must be an analogous list with generator lists for the U_i, but here we have to have permutation representations. These permutation representations are used to compute membership and group orders of stabilisers. The argument sizes must be a list of length k+1 and entry i must be the group order of U_i (again with U_{k+1} being G). Finally, the argument codims must be a list of length k containing integers with the ith entry being the codimension of the U_i-invariant subspace Y_i of X with X_i = X/Y_i. These codimensions must not decrease for obvious reasons, but some of them may be equal. The last argument opt is an options record. See below for possible entries.

The function does all necessary steps to fill a setup record (see 8.3) to be used with `OrbitBySuborbit` (8.1-1). For details see the code.

Currently, the following components in the options record opt have a meaning:

`regvecfachints`

  If bound it must be a list. In position i for i>1 there may be a list of vectors in the i-th quotient space X_i that can be used to distinguish the left U_{i-1} cosets in U_i. All vectors in this list are tried and the first one that actually works is used.

`regvecfullhints`

  If bound it must be a list. In position i for i>1 there may be a list of vectors in the full space X that can be used to distinguish the left U_{i-1} cosets in U_i. All vectors in this list are tried and the first one that actually works is used.

`stabchainrandom`

  If bound the value is copied into the `stabchainrandom` component of the setup record.

##### 8.2-2 OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForLines

`> OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForLines`( gens, permgens, sizes, codims, opt ) | ( function )

Returns: a setup record in the filter `IsOrbitBySuborbitSetup` (8.3-1)

All notations from the beginning of this Chapter 8 remain in place. This does exactly the same as `OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForVectors` (8.2-1) except that it handles the case of matrices acting on one-dimensional subspaces. Those one-dimensional subspaces are represented by normalised vectors, where a vector is normalised if its first non-vanishing entry is equal to 1.

##### 8.2-3 OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForSpaces

`> OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForSpaces`( gens, permgens, sizes, codims, spcdim, opt ) | ( function )

Returns: a setup record in the filter `IsOrbitBySuborbitSetup` (8.3-1)

All notations from the beginning of this Chapter 8 remain in place. This does exactly the same as `OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForVectors` (8.2-1) except that it handles the case of matrices acting on spcdim-dimensional subspaces. Those subspaces are represented by fully echelonised bases.

#### 8.3 Data structures for orbit-by-suborbits

The description in this section is necessarily technical. It is meant more as extended annotations to the source code than as user documentation. Usually it should not be necessary for the user to know the details presented here. The function `OrbitBySuborbit` (8.1-1) needs an information record of the following form:

##### 8.3-1 IsOrbitBySuborbitSetup

`> IsOrbitBySuborbitSetup`( ob ) | ( category )

Returns: `true` or `false`

Objects in this category are also in `IsComponentObjRep`. We describe the components, refering to the setup at the beginning of this Chapter 8.

`k`

  The number of helper subgroups.

`size`

  A list of length k+1 containing the orders of the groups U_i, including U_{k+1} = G.

`index`

  A list of length k with the index [U_i:U_{i-1}] in position i (U_0 = 1).

`els`

  A list of length k+1 containing generators of the groups in their action on various sets. In position i we store all the generators for all groups acting on X_i, that is for the groups U_1, ..., U_i (where position k+1 includes the generators for G. In each position the generators of all those groups are concatentated starting with U_1 and ending with U_i.

`elsinv`

  The inverses of all the elements in the `els` component in the same arrangement.

`trans`

  A list of length k in which position i for i>1 contains a list of words in the generators for a transversal of U_{i-1} in U_i (with U_0 = 1).

`pifunc`

  Projection functions. This is a list of length k+1 containing in position j a list of length j-1 containing in position i a GAP function doing the projection X_j -> X_i. These GAP functions take two arguments, namely the point to map and secondly the value of the `pi` component at positions `[j][i]`. Usually `pifunc` is just the slicing operator in GAP and `pi` contains the components to project onto as a range object.

`pi`

  See the description of the `pifunc` component.

`op`

  A list of k+1 GAP operation functions, each taking a point p and a generator g in the action given by the index and returning pg.

`info`

  A list of length k containing a hash table with the minimalisation lookup data. These hash tables grow during orbit enumerations as precomputations are done behind the scenes.

  `info[1]` contains precomputation data for X_1. Assume x in X_1 to be U_1-minimal. For all z in xU_1 with z <> x we store the number of an element in the `wordcache` mapping z to x. For z=x we store a record with two components `gens` and `size`, where `gens` stores generators for the stabiliser Stab_{U_1}(x) as words in the group generators and `size` stores the size of that stabiliser.

  `info[i]` for i>1 contains precomputation data for X_i. Assume x in X_i to be U_i-minimal. For all U_{i-1}-minimal z in xU_i \ xU_{i-1} we store the number of an element in `trans[i]` mapping z into xU_{i-1}. For all U_{i-1}-minimal z in xU_{i-1} with z <> x we store the negative of the number of a word in `wordcache` that is in the generators of U_{i-1} and maps z to x. For z=x we store the stabiliser information as in the case i=1.

  This information together with the information in the following componente allows the minimalisation function to do its job.

`cosetrecog`

  A list of length k beginning with the index 1. The entry at position i is bound to a function taking 3 arguments, namely i itself, a word in the group generators of U_1, ..., U_k which lies in U_i, and the setup record. The function computes the number `j` of an element in `trans[i]`, such that the element of U_i described by the word lies in `trans[i][j] U_{{i-1}}`.

`cosetinfo`

  A list of things that can be used by the functions in `cosetrecog`.

`suborbnr`

  A list of length k that contains in position i the number of U_i-orbits in X_i archived in `info[i]` during precomputation.

`sumstabl`

  A list of length k that contains in position i the sum of the point stabiliser sizes of all U_i-orbits X_i archived in `info[i]` during precomputation.

`permgens`

  A list of length k+1 containing in position i generators for U_1, ..., U_i in a faithful permutation representation of U_i. Generators fit to the generators in `els`. For the variant `OrbitBySuborbitKnownSize` (8.1-2) the k+1 entry can be unbound.

`permgensinv`

  The inverses of the generators in `permgens` in the same arrangement.

`sample`

  A list of length k+1 containing sample points in the sets X_i.

`stabchainrandom`

  The value is used as the value for the `random` option for `StabChain` calculations to determine stabiliser sizes. Note that the algorithms are randomized if you use this feature with a value smaller than 1000.

`wordhash`

  A hash to quickly recognise already used words. For every word in the hash the position of that word in the `wordcache` list is stored as value in the hash.

`wordcache`

  A list of words in the wordcache for indexing purposes.

`hashlen`

  Initial length of hash tables used for the enumeration of lists of U_i-minimal points.

`staborblenlimit`

  This contains the limit, up to which orbits of stabilisers are computed using word action. After this limit, the stabiliser elements are actually evaluated in the group.

`stabsizelimitnostore`

  If the stabiliser in the quotient is larger than this limit, the suborbit is not stored.

`cache`

  A linked list cache object (see `LinkedListCache` (5.2-1)) to store already computed transversal elements. The cache nodes are referenced in the `transcache` component and are stored in the cache `cache`.

`transcache`

  This is a list of lists of weak pointer objects. The weak pointer object at position `[i][j]` holds references to cache nodes of transversal elements of U_i-1 in U_i in representation j.

##### 8.3-2 The global record `ORB`

In this section we describe the global record `ORB`, which contains some entries that can tune the behaviour of the orbit-by-suborbit functions. The record has the following components:

`MINSHASHLEN`

  This positive integer is the initial value of the hash size when enumerating orbits of stored stabilisers to find all or search through U_{i-1}-minimal vectors in an U_i-orbit. The default value is 1000.

`ORBITBYSUBORBITDEPTH`

  This integer indicates how many recursive calls to `OrbitBySubOrbitInner` have been done. The initial value is 0 to indicate that no such call has happened. This variable is necessary since the minimalisation routine sometimes uses `OrbitBySubOrbitInner` recursively to complete some precomputation "on the fly" during some other orbit-by-suborbit enumeration. This component is always set to 0 automatically when calling `OrbitBySuborbit` (8.1-1) or `OrbitBySuborbitKnownSize` (8.1-2) so the user should usually not have to worry about it at all.

`PATIENCEFORSTAB`

  This integer indicates how many Schreier generators for the stabiliser are tried before assuming that the stabiliser is complete. Whenever a new generator for the stabiliser is found that increases the size of the currently known stabiliser, the count is reset to 0 that is, only when `ORB.PATIENCEFORSTAB` unsuccessful Schreier generators have been tried no more Schreier generators are created. The default value for this component is 1000. This feature is purely heuristical and therefore this value has to be adjusted for some orbit enumerations.

`PLEASEEXITNOW`

  This value is usually set to `false`. Setting it to `true` in a break loop tells the orbit-by-suborbit routines to exit gracefully at the next possible time. Simply leaving such a break loop with `quit;` is not safe, since the routines might be in the process of updating precomputation data and the data structures might be left corrupt. Always use this component to leave an orbit enumeration prematurely.

`REPORTSUBORBITS`

  This positive integer governs how often information messages about newly found suborbits are printed. The default value is 1000 saying that after every 1000 suborbits a message is printed, if the info level is at its default value 1. If the info level is increased, then this component does no longer affect the printing and all found suborbits are reported.

`TRIESINQUOTIENT` and `TRIESINWHOLESPACE`

  The bootstrap routines `OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForVectors` (8.2-1), `OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForLines` (8.2-2) and `OrbitBySuborbitBootstrapForSpaces` (8.2-3) all need to compute transversals of one helper subgroup in the next one. They use orbit enumerations in various spaces to achieve this. The component `TRIESINQUOTIENT` must be a non-negative integer and indicates how often a random vector in the corresponding quotient space is tried to find an orbit that can distinguish between cosets. The other component `TRIESINWHOLESPACE` also must be a non-negative integer and indicates how often a random vector in the whole space is tried. The default values are 3 and 20 resepectively.

#### 8.4 Lists of orbit-by-suborbit objects

There are a few functions that help to administrate lists of orbit-by-suborbits.

##### 8.4-1 InitOrbitBySuborbitList

`> InitOrbitBySuborbitList`( setup, nrrandels ) | ( function )

Returns: a list of orbit-by-suborbits object

Creates an object that stores a list of orbit-by-suborbits. The argument setup must be an orbit-by-suborbit setup record and nrrandels must be an integer. It indicates how many random elements in G should be used to do a probabilistic check for membership in case an orbit-by-suborbit is only partially known.

##### 8.4-2 IsVectorInOrbitBySuborbitList

`> IsVectorInOrbitBySuborbitList`( v, obsol ) | ( function )

Returns: `fail` or an integer

Checks probabilistically, if the element v lies in one of the partially enumerated orbit-by-suborbits in the orbit-by-suborbit list object obsol. If yes, the number of that orbit-by-suborbit is returned and the answer is guaranteed to be correct. If the answer is `fail` there is a small probability that the point actually lies in one of the orbits but this could not be shown.

##### 8.4-3 OrbitsFromSeedsToOrbitList

`> OrbitsFromSeedsToOrbitList`( obsol, li ) | ( function )

Returns: nothing

Takes the elements in the list li as seeds for orbit-by-suborbits. For each such seed it is first checked whether it lies in one of the orbit-by-suborbits in obsol, which must be an orbit-by-suborbit list object. If not found, 51% of the orbit-by-suborbit of the seed is enumerated and added to the list obsol.

This function is a good way to quickly enumerate a greater number of orbit-by-suborbits.

##### 8.4-4 VerifyDisjointness

`> VerifyDisjointness`( obsol ) | ( function )

Returns: `true` or `false`

This function checks deterministically, whether the orbit-by-suborbits in the orbit-by-suborbit list object obsol are disjoint or not and returns the corresponding boolean value. This is not a Monte-Carlo algorithm. If the answer is `false`, the function writes out, which orbits are in fact identical.

##### 8.4-5 Memory

`> Memory`( obsol ) | ( operation )

Returns: an integer

Returns the total memory used for all orbit-by-suborbits in the orbit-by-suborbit-list obsol. Precomputation data is not included, ask the setup object instead.

##### 8.4-6 TotalLength

`> TotalLength`( obsol ) | ( operation )

Returns: an integer

Returns the total number of points stored in all orbit-by-suborbits in the orbit-by-suborbit-list obsol.

##### 8.4-7 Size

`> Size`( obsol ) | ( method )

Returns: an integer

Returns the total number of points in the orbit-by-suborbit-list obsol.

##### 8.4-8 SavingFactor

`> SavingFactor`( obsol ) | ( operation )

Returns: an integer

Returns the quotient of the total number of points stored in all orbit-by-suborbits in the orbit-by-suborbit-list obsol and the total number of U-minimal points stored, which is the average saving factor considering all orbit-by-suborbits together. Note that the memory for the precomputations is not considered here!

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