Self-converse large sets of pure directed triple systems

An $LPDTS(v,\lambda )$ is a collection of $\frac{3(v?2)}{\lambda }$ pairwise disjoint $PDTS(v,\lambda )s$ on the same set of v elements. An $LPDT{S}^{?}(v)$ is a special $LPDTS(v,1)$ which contains exactly $\frac{v?2}{2}$ converse hexads of $PDTS(v)s$. In this paper, we mainly discuss the existence of an $LPDT{S}^{?}(v)$ and get the following conclusions: (1) there exists an $LPDT{S}^{?}(v)$ if and only if $v\equiv 0,4\mathrm{mod 6},v\ge 4$ except possibly $v=30$. (2) There exists an $LPDTS(v,\lambda )$ with index $\lambda \equiv 2,4\mathrm{mod 6}$ if and only if $v\equiv 0,4\mathrm{mod 6},v\ge 2\lambda +2,v\equiv 2\mathrm{mod}\mathit{\lambda }$ except possibly $v=30$.     

Further results on large set of disjoint pure Mendelsohn triple systems

In this article, we study a large set of disjoint pure Mendelsohn triple systems “with holes” (briefly LPHMTS), which is a generalization of large set of disjoint pure Mendelsohn triple systems (briefly LPMTS), and give some recursive constructions on LPHMTS. Using these constructions, we show that there exists LPMTS(2ⁿ + 2) for any n ≠ 2. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Combin Designs 8: 274–290, 2000     

Self-converse large sets of pure Mendelsohn triple systems

A Mendelsohn triple system of order v （MTS（v）） is a pair （X,B） where X is a v-set and 5g is a collection of cyclic triples on X such that every ordered pair of X belongs to exactly one triple of B. An MTS（v） （X,B） is called pure and denoted by PMTS（v） if （x, y, z） ∈ B implies （z, y, x） ∈B. A large set of MTS（v）s （LMTS（v）） is a collection of v - 2 pairwise disjoint MTS（v）s on a v-set. A self-converse large set of PMTS（v）s, denoted by LPMTS＊ （v）, is an LMTS（v） containing [ v-2/2] converse pairs of PMTS（v）s. In this paper, some results about the existence and non-existence for LPMTS＊ （v） are obtained.     

The existence of 2-balanced Mendelsohn triple systems

A Mendelsohn triple system MTS$(v,b)$ is a collection of $b$ cyclic triples (blocks) on a set of $v$ points. It is $j$-balanced for $j=1,2,3$ when any two points, ordered pairs, or cyclic triples (resp.) are contained in the same or almost the same number of blocks (difference at most one). A $(2,3)$-balanced Mendelsohn triple system is an MTS$(v,b)$ that is both 2-balanced and 3-balanced. Employing large sets of Mendelsohn triple systems and partitionable Mendelsohn candelabra systems, we completely determine the spectrum for which a 2-balanced Mendelsohn triple system exists. Meanwhile, we determine the existence spectrum for a $(2,3)$-balanced Mendelsohn triple system.     

Transitive resolvable idempotent quasigroups and large sets of resolvable Mendelsohn triple systems

We first define a transitive resolvable idempotent quasigroup (TRIQ), and show that a TRIQ of order v exists if and only if 3∣v and . Then we use TRIQ to present a tripling construction for large sets of resolvable Mendelsohn triple systems s, which improves an earlier version of tripling construction by Kang. As an application we obtain an for any integer n≥1, which provides an infinite family of even orders.     

The spectrum of resolvable holey Mendelsohn triple systems and holey Mendelsohn frames with block size three

A holey Mendelsohn triple system (HMTS) is a decomposition of a complete multipartite directed graph into directed cycles of length 3. If the directed cycles of length 3 can be partitioned into parallel classes, then the HMTS is called an RHMTS. Bennett, Wei and Zhu [J. Combin. Des., 1997] showed that an RHMTS of type $g^n$ exists when $gn\equiv 0(\mathrm{mod}3)$ and $(g,n)\ne (1,6)$ with some possible exceptions. In this paper, motivated by the application in constructing RHMTSs, we investigate the constructions of holey Mendelsohn frames. We prove that a 3-MHF of type $(n,h^t)$ exists if and only if $n\ge 3$, $t\ge 4$ and $nh(t-1)\equiv 0(\mathrm{mod}3)$, and then determine that the necessary condition for the existence of an RHMTS of type $g^n$, namely, $gn\equiv 0(\mathrm{mod}3)$ is also sufficient except for $(g,n)=(1,6)$. New recursive constructions on incomplete RHMTSs via MHFs are introduced to settle this problem completely.     

The spectrum for large sets of pure directed triple systems

An LPDTS(ν) is a collection of 3(ν-2) disjoint pure directed triple systems on the same set ofνelements. It is showed in Tian's doctoral thesis that there exists an LPDTS(ν) forν=0,4 (mod 6),ν≥4. In this paper, we establish the existence of an LPDTS(ν) forν= 1,3 (mod 6),ν> 3. Thus the spectrum for LPDTS(ν) is completely determined to be the set {ν:ν= 0, 1 (mod 3),ν≥4}.     

Frame self-orthogonal Mendelsohn triple systems of type

A Mendelsohn triple system (MTS) corresponds to an idempotent semisymmetric Latin square (quasigroup) of the same order. A holey MTS is called frame self-orthogonal, briefly FSOMTS, if its associated holey semisymmetric Latin square is frame self-orthogonal. In this paper, we use FSOMTS(hⁿ) to denote an FSOMTS with n spanning holes of size h. The existence of FSOMTS(hⁿ) for h3 has been known with a few exceptions. We extend the existing results and determine the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of FSOMTS(hⁿ) for any h and n with some possible exceptions.     

The spectrum for large sets of pure Mendelsohn triple systems

An LPMTS(v) is a collection of v-2 disjoint pure Mendelsohn triple systems on the same set of v elements. In this paper, the concept of t-purely partitionable Mendelsohn candelabra system (or t-PPMCS in short) is introduced for constructing LPMTS(v)s. A powerful recursive construction for t-PPMCSs is also displayed by utilizing s-fan designs. Together with direct constructions, the existence of an LPMTS(v) for and v>1 is established. For odd integer v?7, a special construction from both LPMTS(v) and OLPMTS(v) to LPMTS(2v+1) is set up. Finally, the existence of an LPMTS(v) is completely determined to be the set .     

Another construction for large sets of Kirkman triple systems

A large set of Kirkman triple systems of order v, denoted by LKTS(v), is a collection , where every is a KTS(v) and all form a partition of all triples on X. In this article, we give a new construction for LKTS(6v + 3) via OLKTS(2v + 1) with a special property and obtain new results for LKTS, that is there exists an LKTS(3v) for , where p, q ≥ 0, r _i , s _j ≥ 1, q _i is a prime power and mod 12.      

Affine Mendelsohn triple systems and the Eisenstein integers

We define a Mendelsohn triple system (MTS) of order coprime with 3, and having multiplication affine over an abelian group, to be affine, nonramified. By exhibiting a one‐to‐one correspondence between isomorphism classes of affine MTS and those of modules over the Eisenstein integers, we solve the isomorphism problem for affine, nonramified MTS and enumerate these isomorphism classes (extending the work of Donovan, Griggs, McCourt, Opr?al, and Stanovský). As a consequence, all entropic MTSs of order coprime with 3 and distributive MTS of order coprime with 3 are classified. Partial results on the isomorphism problem for affine MTS with order divisible by 3 are given, and a complete classification is conjectured. We also prove that for any affine MTS, the qualities of being nonramified, pure, and self‐orthogonal are equivalent.     

The spectrum for overlarge sets of hybrid triple systems

A hybrid triple system of order v and index λ,denoted by HTS(v,λ),is a pair(X,B) where X is a v-set and B is a collection of cyclic triples and transitive triples on X,such that every ordered pair of X belongs to λ triples of B. An overlarge set of disjoint HTS(v,λ),denoted by OLHTS(v,λ),is a collection {(Y {y},Ai)}i,such that Y is a(v+1)-set,each(Y {y},Ai) is an HTS(v,λ) and all Ais form a partition of all cyclic triples and transitive triples on Y.In this paper,we shall discuss the existence problem of OLHTS(v,λ) and give the following conclusion: there exists an OLHTS(v,λ) if and only if λ=1,2,4,v ≡ 0,1(mod 3) and v≥4.     

Large sets of extended directed triple systems with odd orders

For three types of triples, unordered, cyclic and transitive, the corresponding extended triple, extended triple system and their large set are introduced. The spectrum of LEDTS(v) for even v has been given in our paper (Liu and Kang (2009) [9]). In this paper, we shall discuss the existence problem of LEDTS(v) for odd v and give the almost complete conclusion: there exists an LEDTS(v) for any positive integer v≠4 except possible v=95,143,167,203,215.     

More large sets of resolvable MTS and DTS with even orders

In this paper, we first introduce a special structure that allows us to construct a large set of resolvable Mendelsohn triple systems of orders 2q ＋ 2, or LRMTS（2q ＋ 2）, where q = 6t ＋ 5 is a prime power. Using a computer, we find examples of such structure for t C T = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24}. Furthermore, by a method we introduced in [13], large set of resolvable directed triple systems with the same orders are obtained too. Finally, by the tripling construction and product construction for LRMTS and LRDTS introduced in [2, 20, 21], and by the new results for LR-design in [8], we obtain the existence for LRMTS（v）and LRDTS（v）, where v = 12（t ＋ 1） mi≥0（2.7mi＋1）mi≥0（2.13ni＋1）and t∈T,which provides more infinite family for LRMTS and LRDTS of even orders.     

A construction for large sets of disjoint Kirkman triple systems

A Steiner system S(t, k, v) is called i-resolvable, 0 < i < t, if its block set can be partitioned into S(i, k, v). In this paper, a 2-resolvable S(3, 4, v) is used to construct a large set of disjoint Kirkman triple systems of order 3v − 3 (briefly LKTS) and some new orders for LKTS are then obtained. Research supported by Tianyuan Mathematics Foundation of NSFC Grant 10526032 and Natural Science Foundation of Universities of Jiangsu Province Grant 05KJB110111.     

An improved product construction for large sets of Kirkman triple systems

It has been shown by Lei, in his recent paper, that there exists a large set of Kirkman triple systems of order uv (LKTS(uv)) if there exist an LKTS(v), a TKTS(v) and an LR(u), where a TKTS(v) is a transitive Kirkman triple system of order v, and an LR(u) is a new kind of design introduced by Lei. In this paper, we improve this product construction by removing the condition “there exists a TKTS(v)”. Our main idea is to use transitive resolvable idempotent symmetric quasigroups instead of TKTS. As an application, we can combine the known results on LKTS and LR-designs to obtain the existence of an LKTS(3ⁿm(2·13^n₁+1)(2·13^n_t+1)) for n1, m{1,5,11,17,25,35,43,67,91,123}{2^2r+125^s+1 : r0,s0}, t0 and n_i1 (i=1,…,t).     

The spectrum for overlarge sets of directed triple systems

A directed triple system of order v,denoted by DTS(v,λ),is a pair(X,B)where X is a v- set and B is a collection of transitive triples on X such that every ordered pair of X belongs toλtriples of B.An overlarge set of disjoint DTS(v,λ),denoted by OLDTS(v,λ),is a collection{(Y\{y},A_i)}_i, such that Y is a(v 1)-set,each(Y\{y},A_i)is a DTS(v,λ)and all A_i's form a partition of all transitive triples of Y.In this paper,we shall discuss the existence problem of OLDTS(v,λ)and give the following conclusion:there exists an OLDTS(v,λ)if and only if eitherλ=1 and v≡0,1(mod 3),orλ=3 and v≠2.     

Some infinite families of large sets of Kirkman triple systems

A large set of Kirkman triple systems of order v, denoted by LKTS(v), is a collection {(X, B_i) : 1 ≤ i ≤ v ? 2}, where every (X,B_i) is a KTS(v) and all B_i form a partition of all triples on X. Many researchers have studied the existence of LKTS(v) for a long time. In [13], the author introduced a concept—large set of generalized Kirkman systems (LGKS), which plays an important role in the discussion of LKTS. In this article, we give a new construction for LGKS and obtain some new results of LKTS, that is, there exists an LKTS(6u + 3) for u = qⁿ, where n ≥ 1, q ≡ 7 (mod 12) and q is a prime power. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 16: 202–212, 2008     

The Mendelsohn Triple Systems of Order 13

A triple cyclically contains the ordered pairs , , , and no others. A Mendelsohn triple system of order v, or , is a set V together with a collection of ordered triples of distinct elements from V, such that and each ordered pair with is cyclically contained in exactly λ ordered triples. By means of a computer search, we classify all Mendelsohn triple systems of order 13 with ; there are 6 855 400 653 equivalence classes of such systems.