Searching for maximal partial ovoids and spreads in generalized quadrangles (Q2471461)

A partial ovoid \(O\) in a generalized quadrangle is a set of points that meets each line of the generalized quadrangle in at most one point. The partial ovoid is called maximal or complete if it is not contained in a larger partial ovoid. An ovoid is a partial ovoid with no lines disjoint from it. Dually, a partial spread in a generalized quadrangle is a set of mutually disjoint lines. If all points of the generalized quadrangle are covered, the partial spread is called a spread. All these concepts can be extended to polar spaces. In the paper under review an exhaustive search is conducted to find the largest (maximal) partial ovoid in the generalized quadrangles \({\mathcal W}(3,5)\), \({\mathcal W}(3,7)\), \({\mathcal Q}^{-}(5,4)\), and \({\mathcal H}(4,4)\). In all these cases it is known that no ovoids exist. The number of non-equivalent partial ovoids of largest possible size is also determined in each case. A similar exhaustive search is conducted for the largest (maximal) partial spread in \({\mathcal H}(4,4)\). Moreover, heuristic searches for maximal partial ovoids in \({\mathcal Q}^{-}(5,q)\) for \(q=4,5,7,8,9,11,13\) and in \({\mathcal H}(3,q^2)\) for \(q=3,4,5,7,8\) produce many new examples, extending the known spectrum of sizes in all cases.