Subsets of PG(n,2) and Maximal Partial Spreads in PG(4,2)

Put θ _n = # {points in PG(n,2)} and φ _n = #{lines in PG(n,2)}. Let ψ be anypoint-subset of PG(n,2). It is shown thatthe sum of L = #{internal lines of ψ} and L′= #{external lines of ψ} is the same for all ψ having the same cardinality:[6pt] Theorem A If k is defined by k = |ψ| ? θ _{n ? 1}, then $$L + L' = \phi _{n - 1} + k(k - 1)/2.$$ (The generalization of this to subsets of PG(n,3) is also obtained.) Let $\mathcal{S}$ be a partial spreadof lines in PG(4,2) and let N denote the number of reguli contained in $\mathcal{S}$ .Use of Theorem A gives rise to a simple proof of:[6pt] Theorem B If $\mathcal{S}$ is maximal then one of the followingholds: (i) $\left| \mathcal{S} \right| = 5,{\text{ }}N = 10;{\text{ }}$ (ii) $\left| \mathcal{S} \right| = 7,{\text{ }}N = 4;{\text{ }}$ (iii) $\left| \mathcal{S} \right| = 9,{\text{ }}N = 4.$ If (i) holds then $\mathcal{S}$ is spread in a hyperplane.It is shown that possibility (ii) is realized by precisely threeprojectively distinct types of partial spread. Explicit examplesare also given of four projectively distinct types of partialspreads which realize possibility (iii). For one of these types,type X, the four reguli have a common line. It isshown that those partial spreads in PG(4,2) of size 9 which arise, by a simple construction, from a spreadin PG(5,2), are all of type X.     

Minimal Blocking Sets in PG(2, 8) and Maximal Partial Spreads in PG(3, 8)

We prove that PG(2, 8) does not contain minimal blocking sets of size 14. Using this result we prove that 58 is the largest size for a maximal partial spread of PG(3, 8). This supports the conjecture that q ²–q+ 2 is the largest size for a maximal partial spread of PG(3, q), q>7.     

Regulus-free Spreads of PG(3,q)

An old conjecture of Bruck and Bose is that every spread of =PG(3,q) could be obtained by starting with a regular spread and reversing reguli. Although it was quickly realized that this conjecture is false, at least forq even, there still remains a gap in the spaces for which it is known that there are spreads which are regulus-free. In several papers Denniston, Bruen, and Bruen and Hirschfeld constructed spreads which were regulus-free, but none of these dealt with the case whenq is a prime congruent to one modulo three. This paper closes that gap by showing that for any odd prime powerq, spreads ofPG(3,q) yielding nondesarguesian flag-transitive planes are regulus-free. The arguments are interesting in that they are based on elementary linear algebra and the arithmetic of finite fields.Dedicated to Hanfried Lenz on the occasion of his 80th birthdayThis work was partially supported by NSA grant MDA 904-95-H-1013.This work was partially supported by NSA grant MDA 904-94-H-2033.     

Results on Maximal Partial Spreads in PG(3, p 3) and on Related Minihypers

This article classifies all {(q + 1), 3, q}-minihypers, small, q = p ^h ₀, h 1, for a prime number p ₀ 7, which arise from a maximal partial spread of deficiency . When q is a third power, the minihyper is the disjoint union of projected PG(5, )'s; when q is a square, also Baer subgeometries PG(3, ) can occur. This leads to a discrete spectrum for the small values of the deficiency of the corresponding maximal partial spreads.     

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

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.     

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.     

Blocking Sets in PG(r, q n )

Let $\mathcal S$ be a Desarguesian (n – 1)-spread of a hyperplane Σ of PG(rn, q). Let Ω and ${\bar B}$ be, respectively, an (n – 2)-dimensional subspace of an element of $\mathcal S $ and a minimal blocking set of an ((r – 1)n + 1)-dimensional subspace of PG(rn, q) skew to Ω. Denote by K the cone with vertex Ω and base ${\bar B}$ , and consider the point set B defined by $$B=\left(K\setminus\Sigma\right)\cup \{X\in \mathcal S\, : \, X\cap K\neq \emptyset\}$$ in the Barlotti–Cofman representation of PG(r, q ⁿ ) in PG(rn, q) associated to the (n – 1)-spread $\mathcal S$ . Generalizing the constructions of Mazzocca and Polverino (J Algebraic Combin, 24(1):61–81, 2006), under suitable assumptions on ${\bar B}$ , we prove that B is a minimal blocking set in PG(r, q ⁿ ). In this way, we achieve new classes of minimal blocking sets and we find new sizes of minimal blocking sets in finite projective spaces of non-prime order. In particular, for q a power of 3, we exhibit examples of r-dimensional minimal blocking sets of size q ⁿ⁺² + 1 in PG(r, q ⁿ ), 3 ≤ r ≤ 6 and n ≥ 3, and of size q ⁴ + 1 in PG(r, q ²), 4 ≤ r ≤ 6; actually, in the second case, these blocking sets turn out to be the union of q ³ Baer sublines through a point. Moreover, for q an even power of 3, we construct examples of minimal blocking sets of PG(4, q) of size at least q ² + 2. From these constructions, we also get maximal partial ovoids of the hermitian variety H(4, q ²) of size q ⁴ + 1, for any q a power of 3.     

Almost Desarguesian Maximal Partial Spreads

Constructions are given of various classesof maximal partial spreads in PG(3,2^r) whose partialspreads consist of q/2 reguli sharing a line. Further,characterization results are given for the main classes of constructedmaximal partial spreads.     

Maximal Partial Spreads and Flocks

Denote by a flock of a quadratic cone of PG(3,q) by S() the spread of PG(3,q) associated with and by l the common line of the base reguli. Suppose that there are two lines not transversal to a base regulus which share the same lines of S() Then we prove that is either linear or a Kantor-Knuth semifield flock. Using this property we can extend the result of J3 on derivable flocks proving that, if a set of q + 1 lines of S() defines a derivable net different from a base regulus-net, then is either linear or a Kantor-Knuth semifield flock. Moreover if l is not a component of the derivable net, then is linear.     

On the intersection of two subgeometries of PG(n, q)

The study of the intersection of two Baer subgeometries of PG(n, q), q a square, started in Bose et al. (Utilitas Math 17, 65–77, 1980); Bruen (Arch Math 39(3), 285–288, (1982). Later, in Svéd (Baer subspaces in the n-dimensional projective space. Springer-Verlag) and Jagos et al. (Acta Sci Math 69(1–2), 419–429, 2003), the structure of the intersection of two Baer subgeometries of PG(n, q) has been completely determined. In this paper, generalizing the previous results, we determine all possible intersection configurations of any two subgeometries of PG(n, q).      

Caps in PG(n,q),q even,n⩾3

Letm′₂(3,q) be the largest value ofk(k<q ²+1) for which there exists a completek-cap in PG(3,q),q even. In this paper, the known upper bound onm′₂(3,q) is improved. We also describe a number of intervals, fork, for which there does not exist a completek-cap in PG(3,q),q even. These results are then used to improve the known upper bounds on the number of points of a cap in PG(n, q),q even,n?4.     

Complete caps in projective spaces PG (n, q)

A computer search in the finite projective spaces PG(n, q) for the spectrum of possible sizes k of complete k-caps is done. Randomized greedy algorithms are applied. New upper bounds on the smallest size of a complete cap are given for many values of n and q. Many new sizes of complete caps are obtained.     

On the Action of the Groups GL(n+1, q), PGL(n + 1, q), SL(n + 1, q) and PSL(n + 1, q) on PG(n, q t)

Let q be a prime power and let n ≥ 0, t ≥ 1 be integers. We determine the sizes of the point orbits of each of the groups GL(n + 1, q), PGL(n + 1, q), SL(n + 1, q) and PSL(n + 1, q) acting on PG(n, q ^t) and for each of these sizes (and groups) we determine the exact number of point orbits of this size.     

Partial t-Spreads in PG(2t+1,q)

This article first of all discusses the problem of the cardinality of maximal partial spreads in PG(3,q), q square, q>4. Let r be an integer such that 2rq+1 and such that every blocking set of PG(2,q) with at most q+r points contains a Baer subplane. If S is a maximal partial spread of PG(3,q) with q ²-1-r lines, then r=s( +1) for an integer s2 and the set of points of PG(3,q) not covered byS is the disjoint union of s Baer subgeometriesPG(3, ). We also discuss maximal partial spreads in PG(3,p ³), p=p ₀ ^h , p ₀ prime, p ₀ 5, h 1, p 5. We show that if p is non-square, then the minimal possible deficiency of such a spread is equal to p ²+p+1, and that if such a maximal partial spread exists, then the set of points of PG(3,p ³) not covered by the lines of the spread is a projected subgeometryPG(5,p) in PG(3,p ³). In PG(3,p ³),p square, for maximal partial spreads of deficiency p ²+p+1, the combined results from the preceding two cases occur. In the final section, we discuss t-spreads in PG(2t+1,q), q square or q a non-square cube power. In the former case, we show that for small deficiencies , the set of holes is a disjoint union of subgeometries PG(2t+1, ), which implies that 0 (mod +1) and, when (2t+1)( -1) <q-1, that 2( +1). In the latter case, the set of holes is the disjoint union of projected subgeometries PG(3t+2, ) and this implies 0 (mod q ^2/3+q ^1/3+1). A more general result is also presented.     

On the Internal Nuclei of Sets in PG(n,q), q is Odd

In PG(2,q) it is well known that if k is close to q, then any k-arc is contained in a conic. The internal nuclei of a point set form an arc. In this article it is proved that for q odd the above bound on the number of points could be lowered to (or even less), if the arc is obtained as the set of internal nuclei of some point set of proper size. Using this result the internal nuclei of point sets of size q + 1 will be studied in higher dimensional spaces, and an application will be presented to so-called threshold schemes.