Symmetric incidence groupoids

In [7] point-reflection geometries were studied which can be derived from commutative kinematic spaces without involutory elements. But the class of point-reflection geometries is larger. For example, elliptic planes with their reflections cannot be derived from commutative kinematic spaces. Here we investigate a larger class of reflection geometries.This paper was sponsored by Vigoni Program 1999.     

Classification of real moduli spaces over genus 2 curves

We classify, in terms of simple algebraic equations, the fixed point sets of the moduli space of stable bundles over genus 2 curves with anti-holomorphic involutions.Research supported by SRF of University of Missouri.     

Beyond Cartesian limits: Leibniz's passage from algebraic to “transcendental” mathematics

This article deals with Leibniz's reception of Descartes' “geometry.” Leibnizian mathematics was based on five fundamental notions: calculus, characteristic, art of invention, method, and freedom. On the basis of methodological considerations Leibniz criticized Descartes' restriction of geometry to objects that could be given in terms of algebraic (i.e., finite) equations: “Descartes's mind was the limit of science.” The failure of algebra to solve equations of higher degree led Leibniz to develop linear algebra, and the failure of algebra to deal with transcendental problems led him to conceive of a science of the infinite. Hence Leibniz reconstructed the mathematical corpus, created new (transcendental) notions, and redefined known notions (equality, exactness, construction), thus establishing “a veritable complement of algebra for the transcendentals”: infinite equations, i.e., infinite series, became inestimable tools of mathematical research.     

Aldo Cossu’s Work in Finite Geometry

A survey of the contributions of Aldo Cossu in finite geometry is given. Dedicated to the memory of Professor Aldo Cossu     

气垫导轨上运动物体加速度测量方法的改进

利用计数计时测速仪测量气垫导轨上滑块运动的加速度,其测量精度直接依赖于2个光电门之间距离的测量,而在实验中该距离的测量往往不易达到很高的精度,致使加速度的测量精度不高.对计数计时测速仪的电路和单片机程序稍加修改,使之能测出滑块从一个光电门运动到另一个光电门所需时间,就无需测量2个光电门之间的距离,因而提高了加速度的测量精度,节约单片机的资源并缩短运行时间.     

The six semifield planes associated with a semifield flock

In 1965 Knuth (J. Algebra 2 (1965) 182) noticed that a finite semifield was determined by a 3-cube array (a_ijk) and that any permutation of the indices would give another semifield. In this article we explain the geometrical significance of these permutations. It is known that a pair of functions (f,g) where f and g are functions from GF(q) to GF(q) with the property that f and g are linear over some subfield and g(x)²+4xf(x) is a non-square for all x∈GF(q)∗, q odd, give rise to certain semifields, one of which is commutative of rank 2 over its middle nucleus, one of which arises from a semifield flock of the quadratic cone, and another that comes from a translation ovoid of Q(4,q). We show that there are in fact six non-isotopic semifields that can be constructed from such a pair of functions, which will give rise to six non-isomorphic semifield planes, unless (f,g) are of linear type or of Dickson-Kantor-Knuth type. These six semifields fall into two sets of three semifields related by Knuth operations.     

Complete caps in projective spaces PG (n, q)

A computer search in the finite projective spaces PG(n, q) for the spectrum of possible sizes k of complete k-caps is done. Randomized greedy algorithms are applied. New upper bounds on the smallest size of a complete cap are given for many values of n and q. Many new sizes of complete caps are obtained.     

Constructions of rank five geometries for the Mathieu group M 22

We construct nine rank five incidence geometries that are firm and residually connected and on which the Mathieu group M²² acts flag-transitively. The constructions use mainly objects arising from the Steiner systemS(3, 6, 22). One of these geometries was constructed by Meixner and Pasini in [10]. Three of them are obtained from the geometry of Meixner and Pasini using doubling (see [8] or [12]) or similar constructions. The remaining five are new and four of them have a star diagram. These latter four geometries are constructed using special partitions of the 22 points of the Steiner system S(3, 6, 22).