On the flocks of Q+(3,q)

A complete characterization of the flocks of Q⁺(3, q) is given. As an application, it follows that if q is odd, q11, 23, 59, there exist no maximal exterior sets of Q⁺ (2n–1, q) for n>2.Paper written with partial financial support of M.P.I.; the authors are members of G.N.S.A.G.A. of C.N.R.     

Some new examples of flocks of Q+(3,q)

Three new examples of non-linear flocks of the non-singular ruled quadric Q⁺(3,q) of PG(3,q) are given.This paper was written while the author was a member of G.N.S.A.G.A. of C.N.R., with partial financial support from M.P.I.     

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     

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.     

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.     

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.     

On (N, p, q) summability factors of infinite series

In this paper a necessary and sufficient condition has been obtained for Σa_n∈_n to be summable |N, q| whenever Σa_n is bounded (N, p, q).     

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).     

On the completeness of regular {q(n−1)+m;n}-arcs in a finite projective plane

Summary The notion of regularity for {q(n–1)+1;n}-acrs of a finite projective plane, discussed previously ([3]), is extended to the {q(n–1)+m;n}-acrs of the plane. Following this, conditions for the completeness of regular {q(n–1)+m;n}-arcs are determined.Lavoro eseguito nell' ambito dei contratti di ricerca matematici del C.N.R.     

Globally irreducible representations of SL3(q) and SU3(q)

The notion ofglobally irreducible representations of finite groups was introduced by B. H. Gross, in order to explain new series of Euclidean lattices discovered by N. Elkies and T. Shioda using Mordell-Weil lattices of elliptic curves. In this paper we classify all globally irreducible representations coming from projective complex representations of the finite simple groups PSL₃(q) and PSU₃(q). The main result is that these representations are essentially those discovered by Gross.     

Complete and Stable O(p+1)×O(q+1)-Invariant Hypersurfaces with Zero Scalar Curvature in Euclidean Space ℝ p+q+2

We classify the zero scalar curvature O(p+1)×O(q+1)-invariant hypersurfaces in the euclidean space ℝ ^p+q+2, p,q > 1, analyzing whether they are embedded and stable. The Morse index of the complete hypersurfaces show the existence of embedded, complete and globally stable zero scalar curvature O(p+1)×O(q+1)-invariant hypersurfaces in ℝ ^p+q+2, p+q≥ 7, which are not homeomorphic to ℝ ^p+q+1. Such stable examples provide counter-examples to a Bernstein-type conjecture in the stable class, for immersions with zero scalar curvature. Mathematics Subject Classifications (2000): 53A10, 53C42,49005.     

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.     

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.     

On PSL(2,q) as a totally irregular collineation group

Non-abelian simple totally irregular collineation groups containing an involutorial perspectivity have been classified by the authors in a recent paper. They are PSL(2,q), PSL(3,q), PSU(3,q), Sz(q), the alternating group on 7 letters, and the second Janko sporadic simple group. In this article, we study PSL(2,q),q congruent to 1 modulo 4, as a collineation group containing an involutory homology.C. Y. Ho was partially supported by a NSA grant.     

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.     

Generalized quadrangles of order (q,q 2),q even,containingW(q) as a subquadrangle

In this paper we give a characterization of the generalized quadrangleQ(5,q),q even, in terms of ovoids of its subquadrangles.     

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     

Maximal arcs in Desarguesian planes of odd order do not exist

Forq an odd prime power, and 1<n<q, the Desarguesian planePG(2,q) does not contain an(nq–q+n,n)-arc.Supported by Italian M.U.R.S.T. (Research Group onStrutture geometriche, combinatoria, loro applicazioni) and G.N.S.A.G.A. of C.N.R.     

The representations ofU q(SO4) andU q(SO3,1)

Summary We have considered here the (unitary) irreducible representations of theq-deformed algebraU _q(SO₄) and of theq-deformed Lorentz algebraU _q(SO_3,1). Both of them contain, as subalgebra, the algebraU _q(SO₃) which is shown to be isomorphic to the Fairlie-Odesskii algebra. As the list of pairwise nonequivalent irreps of theU _q(SO_3,1) demonstrates, the set of the parameters, which characterize such irreps is somewhat reduced (due to periodicity properties of the function w(z)=[z]_q) in comparison with that of theq=1 (classical) case. From another side, the list of unitary irreps of theU _q(SO_3,1) contains the strange series which has no classical counterpart (disappears at q=1).Published in Teoreticheskaya i Matematicheskaya Fizika. Vol. 95, No. 2, pp. 251–257, May, 1993.     

Complete unital-derived arcs in the hall planes

We prove the existence of complete (q ² -q + 1)-arcs in each Hall plane of orderq ²,q ² > 9. Work performed under the auspicies of the G.N.S.A.G.A. of the C.N.R. (National Research Council) of Italy and supported by M.U.R.S.T. progetto “Strutture Geometriche Combinatoria e Loro Applicazioni”.