Hearing the weights of weighted projective planes

Which properties of an orbifold can we “hear,” i.e., which topological and geometric properties of an orbifold are determined by its Laplace spectrum? We consider this question for a class of four-dimensional Kähler orbifolds: weighted projective planes \(M := {\mathbb{C}}P^2(N_1, N_2, N_3)\) with three isolated singularities. We show that the spectra of the Laplacian acting on 0- and 1-forms on M determine the weights N ₁, N ₂, and N ₃. The proof involves analysis of the heat invariants using several techniques, including localization in equivariant cohomology. We show that we can replace knowledge of the spectrum on 1-forms by knowledge of the Euler characteristic and obtain the same result. Finally, after determining the values of N ₁, N ₂, and N ₃, we can hear whether M is endowed with an extremal Kähler metric.     

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.     

More on the existence of small quasimultiples of affine and projective planes of arbitrary order

The functions a(n) and p(n) are defined to be the smallest integer λ for which λ‐fold quasimultiples affine and projective planes of order n exist. It was shown by Jungnickel [J. Combin. Designs 3 ( 6 ), 427–432] that a(n),p(n) < n¹⁰ for sufficiently large n. In the present paper, we prove that a(n),p(n) < n³. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Combin Designs 9: 182–186, 2001     

Small quasimultiple affine and projective planes: Some improved bounds

We improve the known bounds on r(n): = min {λ| an (n², n, λ)-RBIBD exists} in the case where n + 1 is a prime power. In such a case r(n) is proved to be at most n + 1. If, in addition, n − 1 is the product of twin prime powers, then r(n) ${\ \le \ }{n \over 2}$. We also improve the known bounds on p(n): = min{λ| an (n² + n + 1, n + 1, λ)-BIBD exists} in the case where n² + n + 1 is a prime power. In such a case p(n) is bounded at worst by but better bounds could be obtained exploiting the multiplicative structure of GF(n² + n + 1). Finally, we present an unpublished construction by M. Greig giving a quasidouble affine plane of order n for every positive integer n such that n − 1 and n + 1 are prime powers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Combin Designs 6: 337–345, 1998     

Inherited conics in Hall planes

The existence of ovals and hyperovals is an old question in the theory of non-Desarguesian planes. The aim of this paper is to describe when a conic of $\mathrm{PG}(2,q)$ remains an arc in the Hall plane obtained by derivation. Some combinatorial properties of the inherited conics are obtained also in those cases when it is not an arc. The key ingredient of the proof is an old lemma by Segre–Korchmáros on Desargues configurations with perspective triangles inscribed in a conic.     

Character tables and the problem of existence of finite projective planes

We use the connection between positive definite functions and the character table of the symmetric group S₆ to give a short new proof of the nonexistence of a finite projective plane of order 6. For higher orders, like 10 and 12, the method seems to be inconclusive as of now, but could be a basis of further research.     

Cutting planes and column generation techniques with the projective algorithm

The problem studied is that of solving linear programs defined recursively by column generation techniques or cutting plane techniques using, respectively, the primal projective method or the dual projective method.This research has been supported in part by FCAR of Quebec, Grant Nos. CE-130 and EQ-3078, by NSERC of Canada, Grant No. A4152, and by the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique, Grant No. 1.467.0.86.     

Small weight codewords in the codes arising from Desarguesian projective planes

We study codewords of small weight in the codes arising from Desarguesian projective planes. We first of all improve the results of K. Chouinard on codewords of small weight in the codes arising from PG(2, p), p prime. Chouinard characterized all the codewords up to weight 2p in these codes. Using a particular basis for this code, described by Moorhouse, we characterize all the codewords of weight up to 2p + (p−1)/2 if p ≥ 11. We then study the codes arising from . In particular, for q ₀ = p prime, p ≥ 7, we prove that the codes have no codewords with weight in the interval [q + 2, 2q − 1]. Finally, for the codes of PG(2, q), q = p ^h , p prime, h ≥ 4, we present a discrete spectrum for the weights of codewords with weights in the interval [q + 2, 2q − 1]. In particular, we exclude all weights in the interval [3q/2, 2q − 1]. Geertrui Van de Voorde research is supported by the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation through Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT-Vlaanderen) Joost Winne was supported by the Fund for Scientific Research - Flanders (Belgium).     

(Semi-)Riemannian geometry of (para-)octonionic projective planes

We use reduced homogeneous coordinates to construct and study the (semi-)Riemannian geometry of the octonionic (or Cayley) projective plane , the octonionic projective plane of indefinite signature , the para-octonionic (or split octonionic) projective plane and the hyperbolic dual of the octonionic projective plane . We also show that our manifolds are isometric to the (para-)octonionic projective planes defined classically by quotients of Lie groups.     

Some remarks on orders of projective planes,planar difference sets and multipliers

In this paper we investigate how finite group theory, number theory, together with the geometry of substructures can be used in the study of finite projective planes. Some remarks concerning the function v(x)= x ² + x + 1are presented, for example, how the geometry of a subplane affects the factorization of v(x). The rest of this paper studies abelian planar difference sets by multipliers.Partially supported by NSA grant MDA904-90-H-1013.     

Upper chromatic number of finite projective planes

For a finite projective plane , let denote the maximum number of classes in a partition of the point set, such that each line has at least two points in the same partition class. We prove that the best possible general estimate in terms of the order of projective planes is , which is tight apart from a multiplicative constant in the third term :

• (1) As holds for every projective plane of order q.
• (2) If q is a square, then the Galois plane of order q satisfies .

Our results asymptotically solve a ten‐year‐old open problem in the coloring theory of mixed hypergraphs, where is termed the upper chromatic number of . Further improvements on the upper bound (1) are presented for Galois planes and their subclasses. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 16: 221–230, 2008     

On the independence number of the Erdős‐Rényi and projective norm graphs and a related hypergraph

The Erd?s‐Rényi and Projective Norm graphs are algebraically defined graphs that have proved useful in supplying constructions in extremal graph theory and Ramsey theory. Their eigenvalues have been computed and this yields an upper bound on their independence number. Here we show that in many cases, this upper bound is sharp in the order of magnitude. Our result for the Erd?s‐Rényi graph has the following reformulation: the maximum size of a family of mutually non‐orthogonal lines in a vector space of dimension three over the finite field of order q is of order q^3/2. We also prove that every subset of vertices of size greater than q^2/2 + q^3/2 + O(q) in the Erd?s‐Rényi graph contains a triangle. This shows that an old construction of Parsons is asymptotically sharp. Several related results and open problems are provided. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 56: 113–127, 2007     

A construction of non self-orthogonal designs

It is known that a self-orthogonal 2-(21,6,4) design is unique up to isomorphism. We give a construction of 2-(21,6,4) designs. As an example, we obtain non self-orthogonal 2-(21,6,4) designs. Furthermore, we also consider a generalization of the construction.     

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”.     

The nonexistence of projective planes of order 12 with a collineation group of order 8

In this article, we prove that there does not exist a symmetric transversal design which admits an automorphism group of order 4 acting semiregularly on the point set and the block set. We use an orbit theorem for symmetric transversal designs to prove our result. As a corollary of the result, we prove that there is no projective plane of order 12 admitting a collineation group of order 8. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 16: 411–430, 2008     

Gorenstein projective dimensions of complexes

We show that over a right coherent left perfect ring R, a complex C of left R-modules is Gorenstein projective if and only if C ^m is Gorenstein projective in R-Mod for all m ∈ ℤ. Basing on this we show that if R is a right coherent left perfect ring then Gpd(C) = sup{Gpd(C ^m )|m ∈ ℤ} where Gpd(−) denotes Gorenstein projective dimension.     

Holomorphic flat projective structures on projective threefolds

Here we classify projective 3-folds with a holomorphic flat projective structure and Kodaira dimension 1 or 2.The author was partially supported by MURST and GNSAGA of CNR (Italy).     

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).