Topological configurations \((n_4)\) exist for all \(n\geq 17\) (Q1041596): Difference between revisions

A topological configuration \((n_k)\) consists of \(n\) points and \(n\) pseudolines in the real projective plane such that each of the points is incident with precisely \(k\) of the pseudolines, and each of the pseudolines is incident with precisely \(k\) of the points. It is known that topological configurations \((n_3)\), and in fact geometric configurations in which the pseudolines are even lines of the real projective plane, exist for all \(n\geq 9\). For the case \(k=4\), the second author [Geombinatorics 12, 15--23 (2002; Zbl 1116.52302)] showed, on the one hand, that geometric configurations \((n_4)\) exist for all \(n\geq 21\) with the possible exception of the ten values 22, 23, 26, 29, 31, 32, 34, 37, 38 and 43. On the other hand, the first and third author [Rev. Roum. Math. Pures Appl. 50, 483--493 (2005; Zbl 1108.52025)] proved that there are no topological configurations \((n_4)\) for \(n\leq 16\). In the paper under review the authors close the gap and prove the statement in the title. They deal with \(n=17,\ldots,20\) case by case. For all even \(n\) between 22 and 38 a simple construction, which is based on two regular \(k\)-gons where \(n=2k\), for such configurations with a cyclic symmetry is provided. The remaining cases are covered by what the authors call extensions whereby they obtain topological \(((n+2k)_4)\) configurations from topological \((n_4)\) configurations for certain values of \(n\) and \(k\).