Edge-colorings of cubic graphs with elements of point-transitive Steiner triple systems

A cubic graph G is S-edge-colorable for a Steiner triple system S if its edges can be colored with points of S in such a way that the points assigned to three edges sharing a vertex form a triple in S. We show that a cubic graph is S-edge-colorable for every non-trivial affine Steiner triple system S unless it contains a well-defined obstacle called a bipartite end. In addition, we show that all cubic graphs are S-edge-colorable for every non-projective non-affine point-transitive Steiner triple system S.     

Ubiquitous configurations in Steiner triple systems

A Steiner triple system S is a C-ubiquitous (where C is a configuration) if every line of S is contained in a copy of C, and is n-ubiquitous if it is C-ubiquitous for every n-line configuration C. We determine the spectrum of 4-ubiquitous Steiner triple systems as well as the spectra of C-ubiquitous Steiner triple systems for all configurations C with five lines. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Steiner triple systems satisfying the 4-vertex condition

Higman asked which block graphs of Steiner triple systems of order v satisfy the 4-vertex condition and left the cases v = 9, 13, 25 unsettled.We give a complete answer to this question by showing that the affine plane of order 3 and the binary projective spaces are the only such systems. The major part of the proof is to show that no block graph of a Steiner triple system of order 25 satisfies the 4-vertex condition.     

The existence of reverse Steiner triple systems

A Steiner triple system of order v is called reverse if its automorphism group contains an involution fixing only one point. We show that such a system exists if and only if v ≡ 1,3,9 or 19 (mod 24).     

Concerning multiplier automorphisms of cyclic Steiner triple systems

A cyclic Steiner triple system, presented additively over Z _v as a set B of starter blocks, has a non-trivial multiplier automorphism λ ≠ 1 when λB is a set of starter blocks for the same Steiner triple system. When does a cyclic Steiner triple system of order v having a nontrivial multiplier automorphism exist? Constructions are developed for such systems; of most interest, a novel extension of Netto's classical construction for prime orders congruent to 1 (mod 6) to prime powers is proved. Nonexistence results are then established, particularly in the cases when v = (2^β + 1)^α, when v = 9p with p ≡ 5 (mod 6), and in certain cases when all prime divisors are congruent to 5 (mod 6). Finally, a complete solution is given for all v < 1000, in which the remaining cases are produced by simple computations.     

Embedding partial steiner triple systems is NP-complete

It is known that any partial Steiner triple system of order υ can be embedded in a Steiner triple system of order w whenever w?4υ+1, and w≡1, 3 (mod 6); moreover, it is conjectured that the same is true whenever w?2υ+1. By way of contrast, it is proved that deciding whether a partial Steiner triple system of order υ can be embedded in a Steiner triple system of order w for any w?2υ?1 is NP-complete. In so doing, it is proved that deciding whether a partial commutative quasigroup can be completed to a commutative quasigroup is NP-complete.     

Embedding Steiner triple systems in hexagon triple systems

A hexagon triple is the graph consisting of the three triangles (triples) {a,b,c},{c,d,e}, and {e,f,a}, where a,b,c,d,e, and f are distinct. The triple {a,c,e} is called an inside triple. A hexagon triple system of order n is a pair (X,H) where H is a collection of edge disjoint hexagon triples which partitions the edge set of K_n with vertex set X. The inside triples form a partial Steiner triple system. We show that any Steiner triple system of order n can be embedded in the inside triples of a hexagon triple system of order approximately 3n.     

On making two Steiner triple systems disjoint

We prove that if (S₁, β₁) and (S₂, β₂) are two Steiner triple systems of order v and if S is a set of v points, then there exist two disjoint Steiner triple systems (S, β₁′) and (S, β₂′) with (S₁, β₁) ? (S, β₁′) and (S₂, β₂) ? (S, β₂′).     

The associated geometric category of the category of Steiner triple systems

In this paper it will be constructed an abstract geometry will be called a triple space, which is defined in general sense by the closure theoretic definition of geometry “see [4]”. And it is proved that the category of triple spaces is isomorphic to the category of Steiner triple systems. And hence it could be shown that the class of Steiner triple systems which satisfy the geometric axiomI ₃, (I3) $$\forall x_1 ,x_2 ,x_{3,} y;ify \in< x_1 ,x_2 ,x_3 > \backslash< x_1 ,x_2 > \Rightarrow x_3 \in< x_1 ,x_3 ,y > $$ is exactly the class of all Steiner triple systems in which every triangle generate a planar subsystem.     

The spectrum of nested Steiner triple systems

A Steiner triple system can benested if it is possible to add one point to each block in such a way that a BIBD with block-size 4 and λ=1 is obtained. We prove that there exists a Steiner triple system of orderv that can be nested if and only ifvэ1 mod 6.     

On the maximal number of pairwise orthogonal Steiner triple systems

For some time it has been known that for prime powers p^k = 1 + 3 · 2^st there exists a pair of orthogonal Steiner triple systems of order p^k. In fact, such a pair can be constructed using the method of Mullin and Nemeth for constructing strong starters. We use a generalization of the construction of Mullin and Nemeth to construct sets of mutually orthogonal Steiner triple systems for many of these prime powers. By using other techniques we show that a set of mutually orthogonal Steiner triple systems of any given size can be constructed for all but a finite number of such prime powers.     

Completing partial commutative quasigroups constructed from partial Steiner triple systems is NP-complete

Deciding whether an arbitrary partial commutative quasigroup can be completed is known to be NP-complete. Here, we prove that it remains NP-complete even if the partial quasigroup is constructed, in the standard way, from a partial Steiner triple system. This answers a question raised by Rosa in [A. Rosa, On a class of completable partial edge-colourings, Discrete Appl. Math. 35 (1992) 293-299]. To obtain this result, we prove necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a partial Steiner triple system of odd order having a leave L such that E(L)=E(G) where G is any given graph.     

Sequencing partial Steiner triple systems

A partial Steiner triple system of order $n$ is sequenceable if there is a sequence of length $n$ of its distinct points such that no proper segment of the sequence is a union of point‐disjoint blocks. We prove that if a partial Steiner triple system has at most three point‐disjoint blocks, then it is sequenceable.     

Anti-mitre steiner triple systems

A mitre in a Steiner triple system is a set of five triples on seven points, in which two are disjoint. Recursive constructions for Steiner triple systems containing no mitre are developed, leading to such anti-mitre systems for at least 9/16 of the admissible orders. Computational results for small cyclic Steiner triple systems are also included.     

Skew-orthogonal steiner triple systems

Two Steiner triple systems, S₁=(V,ℬ︁₁) and S₂=(V,ℬ︁₂), are orthogonal (S₁ ⟂ S₂) if ℬ︁₁ ∩ ℬ︁₂=∅︁ and if {u,ν} ≠ {x,y}, uνw,xyw ∈ ℬ︁₁, uνs, xyt ∈ ℬ︁₂ then s ≠ t. The solution to the existence problem for orthogonal Steiner triple systems, (OSTS) was a major accomplishment in design theory. Two orthogonal triple systems are skew-orthogonal (SOSTS, written S₁∼S₂) if, in addition, we require uνw, xys ∈ ℬ︁₁ and uνt, xyw∈ ℬ︁₂ implies s ≠ t. Orthogonal triple systems are associated with a class of Room squares, with the skew orthogonal triple systems corresponding to skew Room squares. Also, SOSTS are related to separable weakly union-free TTS. SOSTS are much rarer than OSTS; for example SOSTS(ν) do not exist for ν=3,9,15. Furthermore, a fundamental construction for the earlier OSTS proofs when ν ≡ 3 (mod 6) cannot exist. In the case ν≡ 1 ( mod 6) we are able to show existence except possibly for 22 values, the largest of which is 1315. There are at least two non-isomorphic OSTS(19)s one of which is SOSTS(19) and the other not. A SOSTS(27) was found, implying the existence of SOSTS(ν) for ν ≡ 3 (mod 6) with finitely many possible exceptions.     

On list coloring Steiner triple systems

We study the list chromatic number of Steiner triple systems. We show that for every integer s there exists n₀=n₀(s) such that every Steiner triple system on n points STS(n) with n≥n₀ has list chromatic number greater than s. We also show that the list chromatic number of a STS(n) is always within a log n factor of its chromatic number. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 17: 314–322, 2009     

Planar Steiner triple systems

A regular planar Steiner triple system is a Steiner triple system provided with a family of non-trivial sub-systems of the same cardinality (called planes) such that (i) every set of 3 non collinear points is contained in exactly one plane and (ii) for every plane H and every disjoint block B, there are exactly planes containing B and intersecting H in a block. We prove that a regular planar Steiner triple system is necessarily a projective space of dimension greater than 2 over GF(2), the 3-dimensional affine space over GF(3), an S(2, 3, 2 (6m+7) (3m²+3m+1)+1) with m1, an S(2, 3, 171), an S(2, 3, 183) or an S(2, 3, 2055).     

Orientable biembeddings of cyclic Steiner triple systems from current assignments on Möbius ladder graphs

We give a characterization of a current assignment on the bipartite Möbius ladder graph with 2n+1 rungs. Such an assignment yields an index one current graph with current group Z_12n+7 that generates an orientable face 2-colorable triangular embedding of the complete graph K_12n+7 or, equivalently, an orientable biembedding of two cyclic Steiner triple systems of order 12n+7. We use our characterization to construct Skolem sequences that give rise to such current assignments. These produce many nonisomorphic orientable biembeddings of cyclic Steiner triple systems of order 12n+7.     

Distance and fractional isomorphism in Steiner triple systems

In [8], Quattrochi and Rinaldi introduced the idea ofn ^?1-isomorphism between Steiner systems. In this paper we study this concept in the context of Steiner triple systems. The main result is that for any positive integerN, there existsv ₀(N) such that for all admissiblev≥v ₀(N) and for each STS(v) (sayS), there exists an STS(v) (sayS′) such that for somen>N, S is strictlyn ^?1-isomorphic toS′. We also prove that for all admissiblev≥13, there exist two STS(v)s which are strictly 2^?1-isomorphic. Define the distance between two Steiner triple systemsS andS′ of the same order to be the minimum volume of a tradeT which transformsS into a system isomorphic toS′. We determine the distance between any two Steiner triple systems of order 15 and, further, give a complete classification of strictly 2^?1-isomorphic and 3^?1-isomorphic pairs of STS(15)s.     

The spectrum for rotational Steiner triple systems

We develop some recursive constructions for rotational Steiner triple systems with which the spectrum of a k-rotational Steiner triple system of order v is completely determined for each positive integer k. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.