On (q 2 + q + 2, q + 2)-arcs in the Projective Plane PG(2, q)

A (k,n)-arc in PG(2,q) is usually defined to be a set of k points in the plane such that some line meets in n points but such that no line meets in more than n points. There is an extensive literature on the topic of (k,n)-arcs. Here we keep the same definition but allow to be a multiset, that is, permit to contain multiple points. The case k=q ²+q+2 is of interest because it is the first value of k for which a (k,n)-arc must be a multiset. The problem of classifying (q ²+q+2,q+2)-arcs is of importance in coding theory, since it is equivalent to classifying 3-dimensional q-ary error-correcting codes of length q ²+q+2 and minimum distance q ². Indeed, it was the coding theory problem which provided the initial motivation for our study. It turns out that such arcs are surprisingly rich in geometric structure. Here we construct several families of (q ²+q+2,q+2)-arcs as well as obtain some bounds and non-existence results. A complete classification of such arcs seems to be a difficult problem.     

Existence of (q, 7, 1) difference families with q a prime power

The existence of a (q,k, 1) difference family in GF(q) has been completely solved for k = 3,4,5,6. For k = 7 only partial results have been given. In this article, we continue the investigation and use Weil's theorem on character sums to show that the necessary condition for the existence of a (q,7,1) difference family in GF(q), i.e. q ≡ 1; (mod 42) is also sufficient except for q = 43 and possibly except for q = 127, q = 211, q = 31⁶ and primes q∈ [261239791, 1.236597 × 10¹³] such that in GF(q). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 10: 126–138, 2002; DOI 10.1002/jcd.998     

The classification of spreads in PG(3, q) admitting linear groups of order q(q+1), I. odd order

A classification is given of all spreads in PG(3, q), q = p^r, p odd, whose associated translation planes admit linear collineation groups of order q(q +1) such that a Sylow p-subgroup fixes a line and acts non-trivially on it.The authors are indebted to T. Penttila for pointing out the special examples of conical flock translation planes of order q² that admit groups of order q(q+1), when q = 23 or 47.     

Proper 2-Covers of PG(3,q), q Even

A k-cover of =PG(3q) is a set S of lines of such that every point is on exactly k lines of S. S is proper if it contains no spread. The existence of proper k-covers of is necessary for the existence of maximal partial packings of q ²+q+1–k spreads of . Here we give the first construction of proper 2-packings of PG(3,q) with q even; for q odd these have been constructed by Ebert.     

Some (17q, 17, 2) and (25q, 25, 3) BIBD Constructions

We give the explicit construction of a regular (17q, 17, 2)-BIBD for any prime power q 17 (mod 32) such that 2 is not a 4th power in GF(q) and the explicit construction of a regular (25q, 25, 3)-BIBD for any prime power q 25 (mod 48) such that and +3 are non-squares in GF(q).     

New inductive constructions of complete caps in PG(N,q), q even

Some new families of small complete caps in PG(N, q), q even, are described. By using inductive arguments, the problem of the construction of small complete caps in projective spaces of arbitrary dimensions is reduced to the same problem in the plane. The caps constructed in this article provide an improvement on the currently known upper bounds on the size of the smallest complete cap in PG(N, q), N≥4, for all q≥2³. In particular, substantial improvements are obtained for infinite values of q square, including q=2^2Cm, C≥5, m≥3; for q=2^Cm, C≥5, m≥9, with C, m odd; and for all q≤2¹⁸. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 18: 177–201, 2010     

Maximal partial spreads in PG (3, q)

We transfer the whole geometry of PG(3, q) over a non-singular quadric Q_4,q of PG(4, q) mapping suitably PG(3, q) over Q_4,q. More precisely the points of PG(3, q) are the lines of Q_4,q; the lines of PG(3, q) are the tangent cones of Q_4,q and the reguli of the hyperbolic quadrics hyperplane section of Q_4,q. A plane of PG(3, q) is the set of lines of Q_4,q meeting a fixed line of Q_4,q. We remark that this representation is valid also for a projective space over any field K and we apply the above representation to construct maximal partial spreads in PG(3, q). For q even we get new cardinalities for For q odd the cardinalities are partially known.     

Existence of (q,k, 1) difference families with q a prime power and k = 4, 5

The existence of a (q, k, 1) difference family in GF(q) has been completely solved for k = 3. For k = 4, 5 partial results have been given by Bose, Wilson, and Buratti. In this article, we continue the investigation and show that the necessary condition for the existence of a (q, k, 1) difference family in GF(q), i.e., q ≡ 1 (mod k(k − 1)) is also sufficient for k = 4, 5. For general k, Wilson's bound shows that a (q, k, 1) difference family in GF(q) exists whenever q ≡ 1 (mod k(k − 1)) and q > [k(k − 1)/2]^k(k−1). An improved bound on q is also presented. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Combin Designs 7: 21–30, 1999     

A Characterization of the Complement of a Hyperbolic Quadric in PG (3, q), for q Odd

The incidence structure NQ⁺(3, q) has points the points not on a non-degenerate hyperbolic quadric Q⁺(3, q) in PG(3, q), and its lines are the lines of PG(3, q) not containing a point of Q⁺(3, q). It is easy to show that NQ⁺(3, q) is a partial linear space of order (q, q(q−1)/2). If q is odd, then moreover NQ⁺(3, q) satisfies the property that for each non-incident point line pair (x,L), there are either (q−1)/2 or (q+1)/2 points incident with L that are collinear with x. A partial linear space of order (s, t) satisfying this property is called a ((q−1)/2,(q+1)/2)-geometry. In this paper, we will prove the following characterization of NQ⁺(3,q). Let S be a ((q−1)/2,(q+1)/2)-geometry fully embedded in PG(n, q), for q odd and q>3. Then S = NQ⁺(3, q).     

A condition for the existence of ovals in PG(2, q), q even

A condition is found that determines whether a polynomial over GF(q) gives an oval in PG(2, q), q even. This shows that the set of all ovals of PG(2, q) corresponds to a certain variety of points of PG((q–4)/2, q). The condition improves upon that of Segre and Bartocci, who proved that all the terms of an oval polynomial have even degree. It is suitable for efficient computer searches.     

Subschemes of Hamming association schemes H(n,q), q≥4

The subschemes of the Hamming schemes H(n, q) for q greater than or equal to 4 are studied. We prove that there are no nontrivial subschemes when q > 4 and there exists only one nontrivial subscheme when q = 4.     

Quadriques hermitiennes et ensembles de classe (0, 1, n,q+1) de PG(d,q)

This paper is a first step in the characterization of finite Hermitian quadrics as sets of class (0, 1, n, q+1) in PG(d, q).     

The affine planeAG(2,q),q odd,has a unique one point extension

Summary LetJ be a finite inversive plane of odd orderq. If for at least one pointp ofJ the internal affine planeJ _p is Desarguesian, thenJ is Miquelian. Other formulation: the finite Desarguesian affine plane of odd orderq has a unique one point extension; this extension is the Miquelian inversive plane of orderq. It follows that there is a unique inversive plane of orderq, withq{3, 5, 7}.Oblatum 23-X-1992 & 24-I-1994     

A New Characterization of PSL(p,q)

Abstract

Order components of a finite group are introduced in Chen [Chen, G. Y. (1996c) On Thompson's conjecture. J. Algebra 185:184–193]. It was proved that PSL(3, q), where q is an odd prime power, is uniquely determined by its order components [Iranmanesh, A., Alavi, S. H., Khosravi, B. (2002a). A characterization of PSL(3, q) where q is an odd prime power. J. Pure Appl. Algebra 170(2–3): 243–254]. Also in Iranmanesh et al. [Iranmanesh, A., Alavi, S. H., Khosravi, B. (2002b). A characterization of PSL(3, q) where q = 2 ⁿ . Acta Math. Sinica, English Ser. 18(3):463–472] and [Iranmanesh, A., Alavi, S. H. (2002). A characterization of simple groups PSL(5, q). Bull. Austral. Math. Soc. 65:211–222] it was proved that PSL(3, q) for q = 2 ⁿ and PSL(5, q) are uniquely determined by their order components. In this paper we prove that PSL(p, q) can be uniquely determined by its order components, where p is an odd prime number. A main consequence of our results is the validity of Thompson's conjecture for the groups under consideration.     

Writing Elements of PSL(2, q) as Commutators

We prove that for q ≥ 13, an element A of SL(2, q) is the commutator of a generating pair if and only if A ≠ ?I and the trace of A is not 2. Consequently, when q is odd and q ≥ 13, every nontrivial element of PSL(2, q) is the commutator of a generating pair, and when q is even, an element of PSL(2, q) is the commutator of a generating pair if and only if its trace is not 0. The proof of these results also leads to an improved lower bound on the number of T-systems of generating pairs of PSL(2, q).     

Optimal pseudo-cyclic codes and caps in PG (3,q)

Existence and uniqueness of pseudo-cyclic [q ²+1,q ²–3, 4]-codes over GF(q) are proved. Elliptic quadrics are characterized as those (q ²+1)-caps in PG(3,q) whose corresponding [q ²+1,q ²–3, 4]-codes are pseudo-cyclic.     

Cyclic caps in PG(3,q)

This article investigates cyclic completek-caps in PG(3,q). Namely, the different types of completek-capsK in PG(3,q) stabilized by a cyclic projective groupG of orderk, acting regularly on the points ofK, are determined. We show that in PG(3,q),q even, the elliptic quadric is the only cyclic completek-cap. Forq odd, it is shown that besides the elliptic quadric, there also exist cyclick-caps containingk/2 points of two disjoint elliptic quadrics or two disjoint hyperbolic quadrics and that there exist cyclick-caps stabilized by a transitive cyclic groupG fixing precisely one point and one plane of PG(3,q). Concrete examples of such caps, found using AXIOM and CAYLEY, are presented.     

On a set of lines of PG(3, q) corresponding to a maximal cap contained in the Klein quadric of PG (5, q)

The problem is considered of constructing a maximal set of lines, with no three in a pencil, in the finite projective geometry PG(3, q) of three dimensions over GF(q). (A pencil is the set of q+1 lines in a plane and passing through a point.) It is found that an orbit of lines of a Singer cycle of PG(3, q) gives a set of size q ³ + q ² + q + 1 which is definitely maximal in the case of q odd. A (q ³ + q ² + q + 1)-cap contained in the hyperbolic (or Klein) quadric of PG(5, q) also comes from the construction. (A k-cap is a set of k points with no three in a line.) This is generalized to give direct constructions of caps in quadrics in PG(5, q). For q odd and greater than 3 these appear to be the largest caps known in PG(5, q). In particular it is shown how to construct directly a large cap contained in the Klein quadric, given an ovoid skew to an elliptic quadric of PG(3, q). Sometimes the cap is also contained in an elliptic quadric of PG(5, q) and this leads to a set of q ³ + q ² + q + 1 lines of PG(3,q ²) contained in the non-singular Hermitian surface such that no three lines pass through a point. These constructions can often be applied to real and complex spaces.     

Blocking sets in PG(2, q n ) from cones of PG(2n, q)

Let Ω and be a subset of Σ = PG(2n−1,q) and a subset of PG(2n,q) respectively, with Σ ⊂ PG(2n,q) and . Denote by K the cone of vertex Ω and base and consider the point set B defined by

Halving PSL(2,q)

We show that PSL(2,q), q 3(mod 4), contains a subset of half the cardinality of PSL(2,q), which is uniformly 2-homogeneous on the projective line.