Ramanujan graphs of very large girth based on octonions

Abstract

We present a generalization of the construction of graphs by Lubotzky, Phillips and Sarnak in their celebrated article "Ramanujan graphs". The new approach consists in using octonion algebras rather than quaternions. A key tool is the existing result of the unique factorization of integral octonions. The families obtained by this mean present not only the same spectral property that make them good expanders, but also show a larger girth, yielding a new record for regular graphs.