Types of superregular matrices and the number of n‐arcs and complete n‐arcs in PG (r,q)

Based on the classification of superregular matrices, the numbers of non‐equivalent n‐arcs and complete n‐arcs in PG(r, q) are determined (i) for 4 ≤ q ≤ 19, 2 ≤ r ≤ q ? 2 and arbitrary n, (ii) for 23 ≤ q ≤ 32, r = 2 and n ≥ q ? 8<$>. The equivalence classes over both PGL (k, q) and PΓL(k, q) are considered throughout the examinations and computations. For the classification, an n‐arc is represented by the systematic generator matrix of the corresponding MDS code, without the identity matrix part of it. A rectangular matrix like this is superregular, i.e., it has only non‐singular square submatrices. Four types of superregular matrices are studied and the non‐equivalent superregular matrices of different types are stored in databases. Some particular results on t(r, q) and m′(r, q)—the smallest and the second largest size for complete arcs in PG(r, q)—are also reported, stating that m′(2, 31) = 22, m′(2, 32) = 24, t(3, 23) = 10, and m′(3, 23) = 16. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 14: 363–390, 2006     

Infinite family of large complete arcs in PG(2, q n ), with q odd and n > 1 odd

For q odd and n > 1 odd, a new infinite family of large complete arcs K′ in PG(2, q ⁿ ) is constructed from complete arcs K in PG(2, q) which have the following property with respect to an irreducible conic ${\mathcal{C}}$ in PG(2, q): all the points of K not in ${\mathcal{C}}$ are all internal or all external points to ${\mathcal{C}}$ according as q ≡ 1 (mod 4) or q ≡ 3 (mod 4).     

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).     

Complete ( q 2?+ q +?8)/2-caps in the spaces PG (3, q ), q ≡ 2 (mod 3) an odd prime, and a complete 20-cap in PG (3, 5)

An infinite family of complete (q ² + q + 8)/2-caps is constructed in PG(3, q) where q is an odd prime ≡ 2 (mod 3), q ≥ 11. This yields a new lower bound on the second largest size of complete caps. A variant of our construction also produces one of the two previously known complete 20-caps in PG(3, 5). The associated code weight distribution and other combinatorial properties of the new (q ² + q + 8)/2-caps and the 20-cap in PG(3, 5) are investigated. The updated table of the known sizes of the complete caps in PG(3, q) is given. As a byproduct, we have found that the unique complete 14-arc in PG(2, 17) contains 10 points on a conic. Actually, this shows that an earlier general result dating back to the Seventies fails for q = 17.      

Partitions of Desarguesian and Hughes planes into complete and incomplete arcs

The purpose of the present article is to obtain partitions of Desarguesian projective planes PG (2,q²), and of Hughes planes, too, into a number of q²+q+1 equicardinal arcs. In a previous paper we showed that PG(2,q²) is a disjoint union of arcs as above, which, as it turned out later, were also complete. We now prove that a similar partition can be obtained for the Hughes planes. We also partition Desarguesian and Hughes planes into incomplete arcs with the same number of points.     

On sizes of complete caps in projective spaces PG(n, q) and arcs in planes PG(2, q)

More than thirty new upper bounds on the smallest size t ₂(2, q) of a complete arc in the plane PG(2, q) are obtained for (169 ≤ q ≤ 839. New upper bounds on the smallest size t ₂(n, q) of the complete cap in the space PG(n, q) are given for n = 3 and 25 ≤ q ≤ 97, q odd; n = 4 and q = 7, 8, 11, 13, 17; n = 5 and q = 5, 7, 8, 9; n = 6 and q = 4, 8. The bounds are obtained by computer search for new small complete arcs and caps. New upper bounds on the largest size m ₂(n, q) of a complete cap in PG(n, q) are given for q = 4, n = 5, 6, and q = 3, n = 7, 8, 9. The new lower bound 534 ≤ m ₂(8, 3) is obtained by finding a complete 534-cap in PG(8, 3). Many new sizes of complete arcs and caps are obtained. The updated tables of upper bounds for t ₂(n, q), n ≥ 2, and of the spectrum of known sizes for complete caps are given. Interesting complete caps in PG(3, q) of large size are described. A proof of the construction of complete caps in PG(3, 2 ^h ) announced in previous papers is given; this is modified from a construction of Segre. In PG(2, q), for q = 17, δ = 4, and q = 19, 27, δ = 3, we give complete ${(\frac{1}{2}(q + 3) + \delta)}$ -arcs other than conics that share ${\frac{1}{2}(q + 3)}$ points with an irreducible conic. It is shown that they are unique up to collineation. In PG(2, q), ${{q \equiv 2}}$ (mod 3) odd, we propose new constructions of ${\frac{1}{2} (q + 7)}$ -arcs and show that they are complete for q ≤ 3701.     

Some new symmetric designs

For q, an odd prime power, we construct symmetric (2q²+2q+1,q²,½q(q-1)) designs having an automorphism group of order q that fixes 2q+1 points. The construction indicates that for each q the number of such designs that are pairwise non-isomorphic is very large.     

Sublines of Prime Order Contained in the Set of Internal Points of a Conic

In [2] it was shown that if q ≥ 4n²−8n+2 then there are no subplanes of order q contained in the set of internal points of a conic in PG(2,qⁿ), q odd, n≥ 3. In this article we improve this bound in the case where q is prime to , and prove a stronger theorem by considering sublines instead of subplanes. We also explain how one can apply this result to flocks of a quadratic cone in PG(3,qⁿ), ovoids of Q(4,qⁿ), rank two commutative semifields, and eggs in PG(4n−1,q). AMS Classification:11T06, 05B25, 05E12, 51E15     

Commuting polarities and maximal partial ovoids of H(4,q2)

In PG(4,q²), q odd, let Q(4,q²) be a non‐singular quadric commuting with a non‐singular Hermitian variety H(4,q²). Then these varieties intersect in the set of points covered by the extended generators of a non‐singular quadric Q₀ in a Baer subgeometry Σ₀ of PG(4,q²). It is proved that any maximal partial ovoid of H(4,q²) intersecting Q₀ in an ovoid has size at least 2(q²+1). Further, given an ovoid O of Q₀, we construct maximal partial ovoids of H(4,q²) of size q³+1 whose set of points lies on the hyperbolic lines 〈P,X〉 where P is a fixed point of O and X varies in O\{P}. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 17: 307–313, 2009     

Small arcs in projective spaces

InPG(2,q), small completek-arcs, which have a large number of points in common with a conic have been constructed. This article generalizes these results. InPG(n,q), n 3, small completek-arcs, which havek–1 points in common with a normal rational curve, are constructed. For increasing values of the dimensionn, it is even possible to construct smaller complete arcs.Senior research assistant of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research NFWO     

On the sharpness of a theorem of B. segre

The theorem of B. Segre mentioned in the title states that a complete arc of PG(2,q),q even which is not a hyperoval consists of at mostq−√q+1 points. In the first part of our paper we prove this theorem to be sharp forq=s ² by constructing completeq−√q+1-arcs. Our construction is based on the cyclic partition of PG(2,q) into disjoint Baer-subplanes. (See Bruck [1]). In his paper [5] Kestenband constructed a class of (q−√q+1)-arcs but he did not prove their completeness. In the second part of our paper we discuss the connections between Kestenband’s and our constructions. We prove that these constructions result in isomorphic (q−√q+1)-arcs. The proof of this isomorphism is based on the existence of a traceorthogonal normal basis in GF(q ³) over GF(q), and on a representation of GF(q)³ in GF(q ³)³ indicated in Jamison [4].     

New (k; r)-arcs in the projective plane of order thirteen

A (k;r)-arc $\cal K$ is a set of k points of a projective plane PG(2, q) such that some r, but no r +1 of them, are collinear. The maximum size of a (k; r)-arc in PG(2, q) is denoted by m _r (2, q). In this paper a (35; 4)-arc, seven (48; 5)-arcs, a (63; 6)-arc and two (117; 10)-arcs in PG(2, 13) are given. Some were found by means of computer search, whereas the example of a (63; 6)-arc was found by adding points to those of a sextic curve $\cal C$ that was not complete as a (54; 6)-arc. All these arcs are new and improve the lower bounds for m _r (2, 13) given in [10, Table 5.4]. The last section concerns the nonexistence of (40; 4)-arcs in PG(2, 13).     

A Combinatorial Characterization of Hermitian Curves

A unital U with parameter q is a 2 – (q ³ + 1, q + 1, 1) design. If a point set U in PG(2, q ²) together with its (q + 1)-secants forms a unital, then U is called a Hermitian arc. Through each point p of a Hermitian arc H there is exactly one line L having with H only the point p in common; this line L is called the tangent of H at p. For any prime power q, the absolute points and nonabsolute lines of a unitary polarity of PG(2, q ²) form a unital that is called the classical unital. The points of a classical unital are the points of a Hermitian curve in PG(2, q ²).Let H be a Hermitian arc in the projective plane PG(2, q ²). If tangents of H at collinear points of H are concurrent, then H is a Hermitian curve. This result proves a well known conjecture on Hermitian arcs.     

Matroids with No (q+2)-Point-Line Minors

It is known that a geometry with rankrand no minor isomorphic to the (q+2)-point line has at most (q^r−1)/(q−1) points, with strictly fewer points ifr>3 andqis not a prime power. Forqnot a prime power andr>3, we show thatq^r−1−1 is an upper bound. Forqa prime power andr>3, we show that any rank-rgeometry with at leastq^r−1points and no (q+2)-point-line minor is representable overGF(q). We strengthen these bounds toq^r−1−(q^r−2−1)/(q−1)−1 andq^r−1−(q^r−2−1)/(q−1) respectively whenqis odd. We give an application to unique representability and a new proof of Tutte's theorem: A matroid is binary if and only if the 4-point line is not a minor.     

Some Characterizations of Finite Hermitian Veroneseans

We characterize the finite Veronesean of all Hermitian varieties of PG(n,q²) as the unique representation of PG(n,q²) in PG(d,q), d n(n+2), where points and lines of PG(n,q²) are represented by points and ovoids of solids, respectively, of PG(d,q), with the only condition that the point set of PG(d,q) corresponding to the point set of PG(n,q²) generates PG(d,q). Using this result for n=2, we show that is characterized by the following properties: (1) ; (2) each hyperplane of PG(8,q) meets in q²+1, q³+1 or q³+q²+1 points; (3) each solid of PG(8,q) having at least q+3 points in common with shares exactly q²+1 points with it.51E24     

A characterization of Buekenhout-Metz unitals in PG(2, q 2), q even

The known examples of embedded unitals (i.e. Hermitian arcs) in PG(2, q ²) are B-unitals, i.e. they can be obtained from ovoids of PG(3, q) by a method due to Buekenhout. B-unitals arising from elliptic quadrics are called BM-unitals. Recently, BM-unitals have been classified and their collineation groups have been investigated. A new characterization is given in this paper. We also compute the linear collineation group fixing the B-unital arising from the Segre-Tits ovoid of PG(3, 2 ^r ), r3 odd. It turns out that this group is an Abelian group of order q ².Research supported by MURST.     

Lower bounds for the cardinality of minimal blocking sets in projective spaces

In this paper new lower bounds for the cardinality of minimal m-blocking sets are determined. Let r₂(q) be the number such that q+r₂(q)+1 is the cardinality of the smallest non-trivial line-blocking set in a plane of order q. If B is a minimal m-blocking set in PG(n,q) that contains at most q^m+q^m−1+…+q+1+r₂(q)·(∑_i=2m−n′^m−1qⁱ) points for an integer n′ satisfying mn′2m, then the dimension of B is at most n′. If the dimension of B is n′, then the following holds. The cardinality of B equals q^m+q^m−1+…+q+1+r₂(q)(∑_i=2m−n′^m−1qⁱ). For n′=m the set B is an m-dimensional subspace and for n′=m+1 the set B is a cone with an (m−2)-dimensional vertex over a non-trivial line-blocking set of cardinality q+r₂(q)+1 in a plane skew to the vertex. This result is due to Heim (Mitt. Math. Semin. Giessen 226 (1996), 4–82). For n′>m+1 and q not a prime the number q is a square and for q16 the set B is a Baer cone. If q is odd and |B|<q^m+q^m−1+…+q+1+r₂(q)(q^m−1+q^m−2), it follows from this result that the subspace generated by B has dimension at most m+1. Furthermore we prove that in this case, if , then B is an m-dimensional subspace or a cone with an (m−2)-dimensional vertex over a non-trivial line-blocking set of cardinality q+r₂(q)+1 in a plane skew to the vertex. For q=p^3h, p7 and q not a square we show this assertion for |B|q^m+q^m−1+…+q+1+q^2/3·(q^m−1+…+1).     

On the intersection of a Hermitian curve with a conic

Let ${\mathcal{H}}${\mathcal{H}} be a Hermitian curve and let Γ be a conic of PG(2, q ²). In this paper we determine the possible intersection configurations between Γ and H{\mathcal{H}} under the hypotheses that Γ and H{\mathcal{H}} either share two points with the same tangent lines or contain a common Baer subconic. Moreover, the intersection configurations between a degenerate Hermitian curve and a conic sharing a Baer subconic are also determined.