Minimal Symmetric Differences of Lines in Projective Planes

Let q be an odd prime power and let be the minimum size of the symmetric difference of r lines in the Desarguesian projective plane . We prove some results about the function , in particular showing that there exists a constant such that for .     

On Projective Planes of Order 15 Admitting a Collineation of Order 7

In this article we prove that there is no projective plane of order 15 admitting a collineation group of order 21. C. Y. Ho proved that there is no projective plane of order 15 admitting a collineation group of order 49. But his proof is incorrect. We also correct his error. The conclusion remains the same. We used a computer for our research.     

Partial Unitals and Related Structures in Desarguesian Planes

It is shown that a partial unital with more than points in the Desarguesian plane of order q can be extended to a unital.     

On the Incompleteness of (k, n)-arcs in Desarguesian Planes of Order q Where n Divides q

We investigate the completeness of an ( nq – q + n – , n)-arc in the Desarguesian plane of order q where n divides q. It is shown that such arcs are incomplete for 0< n/2 if q/n3. For q = 2n they are incomplete for 0 < < 0.381n and for q = 3n they are incomplete for 0 < < 0.476n. For q odd it is known that such arcs do not exist for = 0 and, hence, we improve the upper bound on the maximum size of such a ( k, n)-arc.     

Unitals in Finite Desarguesian Planes

We show that a suitable 2-dimensional linear system of Hermitian curves of PG(2,q²) defines a model for the Desarguesian plane PG(2,q). Using this model we give the following group-theoretic characterization of the classical unitals. A unital in PG(2,q²) is classical if and only if it is fixed by a linear collineation group of order 6(q + 1)² that fixes no point or line in PG(2,q²).     

On Embeddings of the Flag Geometries of Projective Planes in Finite Projective Spaces

The flag geometry =( ) of a finite projective plane of order s is the generalized hexagon of order (s, 1) obtained from by putting equal to the set of all flags of , by putting equal to the set of all points and lines of and where I is the natural incidence relation (inverse containment), i.e., is the dual of the double of in the sense of Van Maldeghem Mal:98. Then we say that is fully and weakly embedded in the finite projective space PG(d, q) if is a subgeometry of the natural point-line geometry associated with PG(d, q), if s = q, if the set of points of generates PG(d, q), and if the set of points of not opposite any given point of does not generate PG(d, q). Preparing the classification of all such embeddings, we construct in this paper the classical examples, prove some generalities and show that the dimension d of the projective space belongs to {6,7,8}.     

Classification of Embeddings of the Flag Geometries of Projective Planes in Finite Projective Spaces, Part 2

The flag geometry Γ=( ,  , I) of a finite projective plane Π of order s is the generalized hexagon of order (s, 1) obtained from Π by putting equal to the set of all flags of Π, by putting equal to the set of all points and lines of Π, and where I is the natural incidence relation (inverse containment), i.e., Γ is the dual of the double of Π in the sense of H. Van Maldeghem (1998, “Generalized Polygons,” Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel). Then we say that Γ is fully and weakly embedded in the finite projective space PG(d, q) if Γ is a subgeometry of the natural point-line geometry associated with PG(d, q), if s=q, if the set of points of Γ generates PG(d, q), and if the set of points of Γ not opposite any given point of Γ does not generate PG(d, q). In two earlier papers we have shown that the dimension d of the projective space belongs to {6, 7, 8}, that the projective plane Π is Desarguesian, and we have classified the full and weak embeddings of Γ (Γ as above) in the case that there are two opposite lines L, M of Γ with the property that the subspace U_L, M of PG(d, q) generated by all lines of Γ meeting either L or M has dimension 6 (which is automatically satisfied if d=6). In the present paper, we partly handle the case d=7; more precisely, we consider for d=7 the case where for all pairs (L, M) of opposite lines of Γ, the subspace U_L, M has dimension 7 and where there exist four lines concurrent with L contained in a 4-dimensional subspace of PG(7, q).     

Four-Dimensional Compact Projective Planes with a Solvable Collineation Group

We consider a four-dimensional compact projective plane whose collineation group is six-dimensional and solvable with a nilradical N isomorphic to Nil×R, where Nil denotes the three-dimensional, simply connected, non-Abelian, nilpotent Lie group. We assume that fixes a flag p W, acts transitively on and fixes no point in the set W\p. Under these conditions, we will prove that either contains a three-dimensional group of elations or acts doubly transitively on .     

Projective Planes of Order q whose Collineation Groups have Order q 2

Translation planes of order q are constructed whose full collineation groups have order q ².     

Some Sets of Type (m,n) in Cubic Order Planes

A (4,9)-set of size 829 in (2,5³) is constructed, as is a (4,11)-set of size 3189 in (2,7³).     

A Characterization of Projective Spaces by a Set of Planes

This note deals with the following question: How many planes of a linear space (P, $\mathfrak{L}$ ) must be known as projective planes to ensure that (P, $\mathfrak{L}$ ) is a projective space? The following answer is given: If for any subset M of a linear space (P, $\mathfrak{L}$ ) the restriction (M, $\mathfrak{L}$ )(M)) is locally complete, and if for every plane E of (M, $\mathfrak{L}$ (M)) the plane $\bar E$ generated by E is a projective plane, then (P, $\mathfrak{L}$ ) is a projective space (cf. 5.6). Or more generally: If for any subset M of P the restriction (M, $\mathfrak{L}$ (M)) is locally complete, and if for any two distinct coplanar lines G1, G2 ∈ $\mathfrak{L}$ (M) the lines $\bar G_1 ,\bar G_2 \varepsilon \mathfrak{L}$ generated by G1, G2 have a nonempty intersection and $\overline {G_1 \cup {\text{ }}G_2 }$ satisfies the exchange condition, then (P, $\mathfrak{L}$ ) is a generalized projective space.     

Bounds for Arcs of Arbitrary Degree in Finite Desarguesian Planes

This paper examines subsets with at most n points on a line in the projective plane . A lower bound for the size of complete ‐arcs is established and shown to be a generalisation of a classical result by Barlotti. A sufficient condition ensuring that the trisecants to a complete (k, 3)‐arc form a blocking set in the dual plane is provided. Finally, combinatorial arguments are used to show that, for , plane (k, 3)‐arcs satisfying a prescribed incidence condition do not attain the best known upper bound.     

The André/Bruck and Bose representation of conics in Baer subplanes of PG(2,q 2)

The André/Bruck and Bose representation ([1], [5,6]) of PG(2,q ²) in PG(4,q) is a tool used by many authors in the proof of recent results. In this paper the André/Bruck and Bose representation of conics in Baer subplanes of PG(2,q ²) is determined. It is proved that a non-degenerate conic in a Baer subplane of PG(2,q ²) is a normal rational curve of order 2, 3, or 4 in the André/Bruck and Bose representation. Moreover the three possibilities (classes) are examined and we classify the conics in each class. Received 1 September 1999; revised 17 July 2000.     

Planar Functions and Planes of Lenz-Barlotti Class II

Planar functions were introduced by Dembowski and Ostrom [4] to describe projective planes possessing a collineation group with particular properties. Several classes of planar functions over a finite field are described, including a class whose associated affine planes are not translation planes or dual translation planes. This resolves in the negative a question posed in [4]. These planar functions define at least one such affine plane of order 3^e for every e 4 and their projective closures are of Lenz-Barlotti type II. All previously known planes of type II are obtained by derivation or lifting. At least when e is odd, the planes described here cannot be obtained in this manner.     

A Note on the Place Topology of Projective Planes

It is shown that the place topology induced by a proper epimorphism of a projective plane , which is known to make a Lenz-topological plane, makes even a topological projective plane, if the extended radical of some underlying ternary field is bounded.     

On tactical decompositions of class number 2

In this article we consider tactical decompositions of class number 2 of symmetric designs. Our main result says that if the orders are prime, then the only decompositions are of affine type. Moreover, we study symmetric decompositions of finite projective planes and show that, except in some cases, they are related to Baer subplanes, unitals, or 2 - ((m ² - m + 1)m, m, 1)designs.     

Minimal Blocking Sets in Projective Spaces of Square Order

In this paper minimal m-blocking sets of cardinality at most in projective spaces PG(n,q) of square order q, q 16, are characterized to be (t, 2(m-t-1))-cones for some t with . In particular we will find the smallest m-blocking sets that generate the whole space PG(n,q) for 2m n m.     

On the density of foliations without algebraic solutions on weighted projective planes

We prove that a generic holomorphic foliation on a weighted projective plane has no algebraic solutions when the degree is big enough. We also prove an analogous result for foliations on Hirzebruch surfaces.