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Graphs that contain multiply transitive matchings

Let $Γ$ be a finite, undirected, connected, simple graph. We say that a matching $\mathcal{M}$ is a \textit{permutable $m$-matching} if $\mathcal{M}$ contains $m$ edges and the subgroup of $\text{Aut}(Γ)$ that fixes the matching $\mathcal{M}$ setwise allows the edges of $\mathcal{M}$ to be permuted in any fashion. A matching $\mathcal{M}$ is \textit{2-transitive} if the setwise stabilizer of $\mathcal{M}$ in $\text{Aut}(Γ)$ can map any ordered pair of distinct edges of $\mathcal{M}$ to any other ordered pair of distinct edges of $\mathcal{M}$. We provide constructions of graphs with a permutable matching; we show that, if $Γ$ is an arc-transitive graph that contains a permutable $m$-matching for $m \ge 4$, then the degree of $Γ$ is at least $m$; and, when $m$ is sufficiently large, we characterize the locally primitive, arc-transitive graphs of degree $m$ that contain a permutable $m$-matching. Finally, we classify the graphs that have a $2$-transitive perfect matching and also classify graphs that have a permutable perfect matching.