Cycle structures of automorphisms of 2-(v,k,1) designs

An automorphism of a 2?(v,k, 1) design acts as a permutation of the points and as another of the blocks. We show that the permutation of the blocks has at least as many cycles, of lengths n > k, as the permutation of the points. Looking at Steiner triple systems we show that this holds for all n unless n|Cp(n)| ? 3, where Cp(n) is the set of cycles of length n of the automorphism in its action on the points. Examples of Steiner triple systems for each of these exceptions are given. Considering designs with infinitely many points, but with k finite, we show that these results generalize. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.