Intersections of Steiner quadruple systems (Q1198508): Difference between revisions

A Steiner quadruple system of order \(v\), \(\text{SQS}(v)\), is a pair \((Q,q)\) where \(Q\) is a set of cardinality \(v\), and \(q\) is a collection of 4-subsets of \(Q\) called blocks such that every 3-subset of \(Q\) is contained in exactly one block of \(q\). Two Steiner quadruple systems \((Q,q)\) and \((Q,p)\) of order \(v\) have intersection size \(n\) if they have precisely \(n\) blocks in common. \(J(v)\) denotes the set of possible intersection sizes for \(\text{SQS}(v)\). It is well known [\textit{H. Hanani}, Can. J. Math. 12, 145--157 (1960; Zbl 0092.01202)] that an \(\text{SQS}(v)\) exists if and only if \(v\equiv 2\) or \(4\pmod 6\). The authors determine \(J(v)\) for \(v\equiv 2\pmod{12}\), \(v\geq 38\), and complete the determination of \(J(v)\) in the case \(v\equiv 10\pmod{12}\) begun by \textit{C. J. Colbourn} and \textit{A. Hartman} [Discrete Math. 97, 119--137 (1991; Zbl 0767.05024)]. Together with \textit{G. Lo Faro}'s results for \(v\equiv 4\) or \(8\pmod{12}\) [Ann. Discrete Math. 30, 297--302 (1986; Zbl 0586.05010)], this leaves only \(J(14)\) and \(J(26)\) to be determined. For \(J(26)\), only one possible intersection size is left undecided.