A condition for the existence of ovals in PG(2,q), q even (Q1825432): Difference between revisions

Let f(t) be a polynomial with degree at most q-2 over GF(q), q even. Consider the set \[ {\mathfrak O}=\{(0,1,0),(0,0,1)\}\cup \{(1,t,f(t)):\quad t\quad is\quad in\quad GF(q)\}. \] \({\mathfrak O}\) is a hyperoval of the projective plane PG(2,q) provided no three points of \({\mathfrak O}\) are collinear, which is if and only if each line of PG(2,q) that passes neither through (0,1,0) nor through (0,0,1) intersects \({\mathfrak O}\) in an even number of points. The main result of the paper is that the following condition on f(t) is necessary and sufficient for \({\mathfrak O}\) to be an hyperoval: the coefficient of \(t^ a\) in \([f(t)]^ b\) (modulo \(t^ q- t)\) is zero for all pairs (a,b) of integers with \(1\leq b\leq a\leq q-1\), b not equal to q-1, and with the binary expansion of a containing the binary expansion of b. A complete list of known hyperovals is given, and the above condition is implemented on a computer to check for further examples. However, it remains open whether or not their is a non-regular hyperoval (conic plus nucleus) in PG(2,64).