Transitive \(A_6\)-invariant \(k\)-arcs in \(\mathrm{PG}(2,q)\) (Q1952262): Difference between revisions

The projective plane \(\mathrm{PG}(2,q)\) with \(q=p^r\), \(p\) prime, \(p\geq 7\) has a projectivity group isomorphic to \(A_6\) if and only if \(q\equiv 1\) or \(19\) (mod \(30\)). If this is the case, such a projective group is uniquely determined up to conjugacy in \(\mathrm{PGL}(3,q)\) [\textit{M. D. Bloom}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 127, 150--178 (1967; Zbl 0153.03702)]. The present paper asks whether or not a \(A_6\)-invariant arc of a fixed size \(k\) exists in \(\mathrm{PG}(2,q)\) for infinitely many values of \(p\). The answer is affirmative when \(k=10\) [\textit{C. O'Keefe} and \textit{L. Storme}, J. Geom. 55, No. 1--2, 123--138 (1996; Zbl 0848.51007)] and when \(k=72\) [\textit{H. Caneta} et al., Mediterr. J. Math. 2, No. 1, 71--102 (2005; Zbl 1167.14313)] , as well as for \(k= 42\) when considering the group \(\mathrm{PSL}(2,7)\) instead of \(A_6\) [\textit{G. Korchmáros} and \textit{L. Indaco}, Des. Codes Cryptography 64, No. 1--2, 33--46 (2012; Zbl 1268.51006)] . The answer is negative for the group \(A_6\) when \(k=15\) [O'Keefe and L. Storme, loc. cit.] and for \(k\geq 9\) when considering the Hesse group of order \(216\) [A. Sonnino, ``On the action of the Hesse group in \(\mathrm{PG}(2, q)\)'', manuscript, private communication (2011)]. The present paper investigates the case \(k=90\) with group \(A_6\). The unique \(A_6\)-orbit \(\Theta\) of size \(90\) in \(\mathrm{PG}(2,q)\), such that the \(1-\)point stabilizer of \(A_6\) in its action on \(\Theta\) is a cyclic group of order \(4\) is an arc except for a few cases. This arc turns out to be complete for \(q= 349, 409, 529, 601, 661\). Moreover \(\Theta\) is the smallest known complete arc in \(\mathrm{PG}(2,601)\) and in \(\mathrm{PG}(2,661)\) [Korchmáros and Indaco, loc. cit.; \textit{D. Bartoli} et al., Discrete Math. 312, No. 3, 680--698 (2012; Zbl 1235.51012)].