The \(p\)-rank of (0,1)-matrices (Q1186117)

Let \(\Gamma\) be a semilinear space and let \(V_ 0\), \(V_ 1\) and \(V\) be the \(\mathbb{Z}\)-modules generated by the sets of points, lines and chambers, respectively. Let \(\delta_ 2:V\to V_ 0\times V_ 1\) be the usual boundary map, such that \(\delta_ 2:\{A,a\}\to(A,-a)\), where \(\{A,a\}\) is a chamber, e.g., the point \(A\) is incident with the line \(a\). Let \(St=\ker\delta_ 2\) denote the \textit{Steinberg} module of all closed circuits in \(\Gamma\). Let \(| A|\) denote the number of lines through the point \(A\), \(| a|\) the number of points on the line \(a\). Under the hypothesis that \(| a|\equiv X+1\pmod p\) and \(| A|\equiv Y+1\pmod p\) for all lines \(a\) and points \(A\) of the linear space \(\Gamma\) with \(v\) points over a field \(k\) with \(\text{char}(k)=p\), it is shown that \[ \text{rank}_ k(M)\geq \begin{cases} 1+\sqrt{\dim_ k(St)}\quad & \text{if } X+1\not\equiv 0\pmod p \\ v\quad & \text{if } Y(Y+1)\not\equiv 0\pmod p \\ v-1& \text{if } Y+1\equiv 0\pmod p \\ \sqrt{\dim_ k(St)} & \text{otherwise} . \end{cases} \] This result generalizes a result of \textit{A. A. Bruen} and \textit{U. Ott} [On the \(p\)- rank of incidence matrices and a question of E. S. Lander. Finite geometries and combinatorial designs, Proc. AMS Spec. Sess., Lincoln/NE (USA) 1987, Contemp. Math. 111, 39-45 (1990; Zbl 0712.05014)].