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# Automorphism watch

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1. I came across this word today, when my lecturer explained it to us but I didn't understand him properly and the explanations on the internet are just as confusing. I was just wondering if anyone has a simple way of explaining this to me with examples. Thanks.
2. In the context of what? Groups? Vector spaces? Modules? Fields?

In any case, if is some object (e.g. group, space, module, field) then is an automorphism if is an isomorphism. That is, an automorphism is an isomorphism from an object to itself.

So for example if is a group then the identity map which maps is a group automorphism. And so is the inversion map . As another example, the complex conjugation map given by is a field automorphism. A final example is if is a vector space of dimension over a field and then the map is a vector space automorphism.
3. For a more interesting example, consider field extensions. Let K be some field. A field extension is then a field L containing K as a subfield, and a morphism of field extensions is a homomorphism of fields leaving K invariant. An automorphism of the field extension L/K is then an isomorphism of fields leaving K invariant. So, for example, let and ; then complex conjugation is an automorphism of the field extension L/K. But there are other field isomorphisms ... they just don't happen to keep invariant.
4. Another example. If is a group and then the map that conjugates by (ie, ) is an automorphism of . These conjugation maps are called inner automorphisms. In fact, the set of these, , is a group under composition and is written . You can show using the first isomorphism theorem that where is the centre of
5. a 1-2-1 correspondence mapping the elements of a Set onto itself, so the domain and range of the function are the same. e.g. f(x)=x+1 is an automorphism on R, but g(x)=sin (x) isn`t - range (- inifn,+infin), range (-1,1).
6. Thanks. So if I wanted to show that : defined by is an automorphism of G where G is an Abelian group, I just show that it is isomorphic?
7. (Original post by JBKProductions)
Thanks. So if I wanted to show that : defined by is an automorphism of G where G is an Abelian group, I just show that it is isomorphic?
Yep.
8. (Original post by Slumpy)
Yep.
To show isomorphism, I have to show that it is a bijective map but I can't seem to show that it's both injective and surjective.
Let . Since G is Abelian then and I'm stuck there. Am I doing it the wrong way to show injectivity?
9. (Original post by JBKProductions)
To show isomorphism, I have to show that it is a bijective map but I can't seem to show that it's both injective and surjective.
Let . Since G is Abelian then and I'm stuck there. Am I doing it the wrong way to show injectivity?
What does that have to do with injectivity?

The easiest way to proceed in this case is to show that has an inverse. And it's obvious what the inverse is: itself. So is not only an automorphism but also an involution.
10. (Original post by JBKProductions)
To show isomorphism, I have to show that it is a bijective map but I can't seem to show that it's both injective and surjective.
Let . Since G is Abelian then and I'm stuck there. Am I doing it the wrong way to show injectivity?
To show injectivity, suppose . Now show x=y.
11. (Original post by Zhen Lin)
What does that have to do with injectivity?

The easiest way to proceed in this case is to show that has an inverse. And it's obvious what the inverse is: itself. So is not only an automorphism but also an involution.
Thanks I had forgot about that. I just thought that since they mentioned Abelian, I had to use that as part of it. So it's enough to just say then therefore bijective and so on?
12. (Original post by JBKProductions)
Thanks I had forgot about that. I just thought that since they mentioned Abelian, I had to use that as part of it.
You do.

So it's enough to just say then therefore bijective and so on?
That establishes that is a bijection. But how do you know it's a homomorphism in the first place?
13. (Original post by Zhen Lin)
You do.

That establishes that is a bijection. But how do you know it's a homomorphism in the first place?
To show that it is a homomorphism I have to show right?
Here's what I tried (Which could be and probably is very wrong!):
since Abelian so its a homomorphism?
14. (Original post by JBKProductions)
To show that it is a homomorphism I have to show right?
Here's what I tried (Which could be and probably is very wrong!):
since Abelian so its a homomorphism?
That works.

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