Baer subgeometry partitions

For any odd integern 3 and prime powerq, it is known thatPG(n–1, q²) can be partitioned into pairwise disjoint subgeometries isomorphic toPG(n–1, q) by taking point orbits under an appropriate subgroup of a Singer cycle ofPG(n–1, q²). In this paper, we construct Baer subgeometry partitions of these spaces which do not arise in the classical manner. We further illustrate some of the connections between Baer subgeometry partitions and several other areas of combinatorial interest, most notably projective sets and flagtransitive translation planes.     

Small point sets of PG(n, q 3) intersecting each k-subspace in 1 mod q points

The main result of this paper is that point sets of PG(n, q ³), q = p ^h , p ≥ 7 prime, of size less than 3(q ^3(n?k) + 1)/2 intersecting each k-space in 1 modulo q points (these are always small minimal blocking sets with respect to k-spaces) are linear blocking sets. As a consequence, we get that minimal blocking sets of PG(n, p ³), p ≥ 7 prime, of size less than 3(p ^3(n?k) + 1)/2 with respect to k-spaces are linear. We also give a classification of small linear blocking sets of PG(n, q ³) which meet every (n ? 2)-space in 1 modulo q points.     

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).      

Collineation groups of the intersection of two classical unitals

Kestenband proved in [12] that there are only seven pairwise non‐isomorphic Hermitian intersections in the desarguesian projective plane PG(2, q) of square order q. His classification is based on the study of the minimal polynomials of the matrices associated with the curves and leads to results of purely combinatorial nature: in fact, two Hermitian intersections from the same class might not be projectively equivalent in PG(2, q) and might have different collineation groups. The projective classification of Hermitian intersections in PG(2, q) is the main goal in this paper. It turns out that each of Kestenband's classes consists of projectively equivalent Hermitian intersections. A complete classification of the linear collineation groups preserving a Hermitian intersection is also given. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Combin Designs 9: 445–459, 2001     

The Geometry of Two-Weight Codes

We survey the relationships between two-weight linear [n, k]codes over GF(q), projective (n, k, h₁, h₂) sets in PG(k –1, q), and certain strongly regular graphs. We also describeand tabulate essentially all the known examples.     

Normal Spreads

In Dedicata 16 (1984), pp. 291–313, the representation of Desarguesian spreads of the projective space PG(2t – 1, q) into the Grassmannian of the subspaces of rank t of PG(2t – 1, q) has been studied. Using a similar idea, we prove here that a normal spread of PG(rt – 1,q) is represented on the Grassmannian of the subspaces of rank t of PG(rt – 1, q) by a cap V _{r, t} of PG(r ^t – 1, q), which is the GF(q)-scroll of a Segre variety product of t projective spaces of dimension (r – 1), and that the collineation group of PG(r ^t – 1, q) stabilizing V _{r, t} acts 2-transitively on V _{r, t} . In particular, we prove that V _{3, 2} is the union of q ² – q + 1 disjoint Veronese surfaces, and that a Hermitan curve of PG(2, q ²) is represented by a hyperplane section U of V _{3, 2}. For q 0,2 (mod 3) the algebraic variety U is the unitary ovoid of the hyperbolic quadric Q ⁺ (7, q) constructed by W. M. Kantor in Canad. J. Math., 5 (1982), 1195–1207. Finally we study a class of blocking sets, called linear, proving that many of the known examples of blocking sets are of this type, and we construct an example in PG(3, q ²). Moreover, a new example of minimal blocking set of the Desarguesian projective plane, which is linear, has been constructed by P. Polito and O. Polverino.     

Conics and caps

In this article, we begin with arcs in PG(2, q ⁿ ) and show that they correspond to caps in PG(2n, q) via the André/Bruck?CBose representation of PG(2, q ⁿ ) in PG(2n, q). In particular, we show that a conic of PG(2, q ⁿ ) that meets ?_?? in x points corresponds to a (q ⁿ ?+?1 ? x)-cap in PG(2n, q). If x?=?0, this cap is the intersection of n quadrics. If x?=?1 or 2, this cap is contained in the intersection of n quadrics and we discuss ways of extending these caps. We also investigate the structure of the n quadrics.     

Constructing two-weight codes with prescribed groups of automorphisms

We construct new linear two-weight codes over the finite field with q elements. To do so we solve the equivalent problem of finding point sets in the projective geometry with certain intersection properties. These point sets are in bijection to solutions of a Diophantine linear system of equations. To reduce the size of the system of equations we restrict the search for solutions to solutions with special symmetries.Two-weight codes can be used to define strongly regular graphs. We give tables of the two-weight codes and the corresponding strongly regular graphs. In some cases we find new distance-optimal two-weight codes and also new strongly regular graphs.     

A geometric approach to Mathon maximal arcs

In 1969 Denniston [3] gave a construction of maximal arcs of degree d in Desarguesian projective planes of even order q, for all d dividing q. In 2002 Mathon [8] gave a construction method generalizing the one of Denniston. We will give a new geometric approach to these maximal arcs. This will allow us to count the number of isomorphism classes of Mathon maximal arcs of degree 8 in PG(2,h²), h prime.     

Some big sets of mutually disjoint subgeometries of PG(d, q t )

In PG(d, q ^t ) we construct a set ? of mutually disjoint subgeometries isomorphic to PG(d, q) almost partitioning the point set of PG(d, q ^t ) such that there is a group of collineations of PG(d, q ^t ) operating simultaneously as a Singer cycle on all elements of ?. In PG(t?1,q ^t ) we construct big subsets ? of ? whose elements are far away from each other in the following sense:

u

? If P ₁, P ₂ ∈ ? _k , then no point of P ₁ lies on ak-dimensional subspace of P ₂.

For example, we get a set ofq - 1 subplanes of orderq of PG(2,q ³) such that no point of one subplane lies on a line of another subplane, and such that no three points of three different subplanes are collinear.     

The Classification of Projective Planes of Order q3 with Cone-Representations in PG (6, q)

The classification of cone-representations of projective planes of orderq ³ of index 3 and rank 4 (and so in PG(6,^q)) is completed. Any projective plane with a non-spread representation (being a cone-representation of the second kind) is a dual generalised Desarguesian translation plane, as found by Jha and Johnson, and conversely. Indeed, given any collineation of PG(2,^q) with no fixed points, there exists such a projective plane of order q³ , where q is a prime power, that has the second kind of cone-representation of index 3 and rank 4 in PG(6,q). An associated semifield plane of order q ³ is also constructed at most points of the plane. Although Jha and Johnson found this plane before, here we can show directly the geometrical connection between these two kinds of planes.     

Small point sets of PG(n, p 3h ) intersecting each line in 1 mod p h points

The main result of this paper is that point sets of PG(n, q), q = p ^3h , p ≥ 7 prime, of size < 3(q ^n-1 + 1)/2 intersecting each line in 1 modulo ${\sqrt[3] q}$ points (these are always small minimal blocking sets with respect to lines) are linear blocking sets. As a consequence, we get that minimal blocking sets of PG(n, p ³), p ≥ 7 prime, of size < 3(p ^3(n-1) + 1)/2 with respect to lines are always linear.     

A spectrum result on minimal blocking sets with respect to the planes of PG(3, q), q odd

This article presents a spectrum result on minimal blocking sets with respect to the planes of PG(3, q), q odd. We prove that for every integer k in an interval of, roughly, size [q ²/4, 3q ²/4], there exists such a minimal blocking set of size k in PG(3, q), q odd. A similar result on the spectrum of minimal blocking sets with respect to the planes of PG(3, q), q even, was presented in Rößing and Storme (Eur J Combin 31:349–361, 2010). Since minimal blocking sets with respect to the planes in PG(3, q) are tangency sets, they define maximal partial 1-systems on the Klein quadric Q ⁺(5, q), so we get the same spectrum result for maximal partial 1-systems of lines on the Klein quadric Q ⁺(5, q), q odd.     

Ovoidal blocking sets and maximal partial ovoids of Hermitian varieties

In Mazzocca et al. (Des. Codes Cryptogr. 44:97–113, 2007), large minimal blocking sets in PG(3, q ²) and PG(4, q ²) have been constructed starting from ovoids of PG(3, q), Q(4, q) and Q(6, q). Some of these can be embedded in a Hermitian variety as maximal partial ovoids. In this paper, the geometric conditions assuring these embeddings are established.     

Embeddability of restricted linear spaces

In this note we examine the problem of embedding into finite projective planes finite linear spaces with p points and q lines satisfying (q ? p)² ? p and q ? 2.     

A characterisation of tangent subplanes of PG(2, q 3)

In “Barwick and Jackson (Finite Fields Appl. 18:93–107 2012)”, the authors determine the representation of Order-q-subplanes s and order-q-sublines of PG(2, q ³) in the Bruck–Bose representation in PG(6, q). In particular, they showed that an Order-q-subplanes of PG(2, q ³) corresponds to a certain ruled surface in PG(6, q). In this article we show that the converse holds, namely that any ruled surface satisfying the required properties corresponds to a tangent Order-q-subplanes of PG(2, q ³).     

Two-Weight Codes, Partial Geometries and Steiner Systems

Two-weight codes and projectivesets having two intersection sizes with hyperplanes are equivalentobjects and they define strongly regular graphs. We construct projective sets in PG(2m – 1,q) that have the sameintersection numbers with hyperplanes as the hyperbolic quadricQ⁺(2m – 1,q). We investigate these sets; we provethat if q = 2 the corresponding strongly regular graphsare switching equivalent and that they contain subconstituentsthat are point graphs of partial geometries. If m = 4the partial geometries have parameters s = 7, t = 8, = 4 and some of them are embeddable in Steinersystems S(2,8,120).     

Scattered Spaces with Respect to a Spread in PG(n,q)

A scattered subspace of PG(n-1,q) with respect to a (t-1)-spread S is a subspace intersecting every spread element in at most a point. Upper and lower bounds for the dimension of a maximum scattered space are given. In the case of a normal spread new classes of two intersection sets with respect to hyperplanes in a projective space are obtained using scattered spaces.     

Note on primitive permutation groups and a diophantine equation

It is shown that there are no transitive rank 3 extensions of the projective linear groups H, PSL(m,q) ? H ? PFL(m,q), for any prime power q and integer m ? 3. In the course of the proof the diophantine equation 5^m + 11 = x^p2, where m, x are positive integers, arose. As such equations can now be solved completely we had the choice of using number theory or geometry to complete the proof.     

On small blocking sets and their linearity

We prove that a small minimal blocking set of PG(2,q) is “very close” to be a linear blocking set over some subfield GF(pe)<GF(q). This implies that (i) a similar result holds in PG(n,q) for small minimal blocking sets with respect to k-dimensional subspaces (0?k?n) and (ii) most of the intervals in the interval-theorems of Sz?nyi and Sz?nyi-Weiner are empty.