A random walk on p-groups with a symmetric perfect pairing

Abstract

The kernel of a random symmetric p-adic matrix is a random abelian group, equipped with a symmetric pairing. If we consider not only the matrix but also its top-left corners, we get a process valued in isomorphism classes of abelian groups, equipped with such a pairing. We show that when the matrix is Haar random, this process is a Markov chain, generated by an operator that we explicitly describe. We will also prove that this operator is reversible with respect to a Cohen-Lenstra type measure.