Homology groups of Steiner systems (Q1056909)

To each Steiner system (X,B) a finite simplicial complex K(X,B) is associated, whose homology groups afford a representation of the automorphism group of the system (in particular, projective and affine planes give the Steinberg representations of PSL(3,q) and of AFF(2,q)). It allows to give an explicit geometric basis of \(H_*(K)\) and this basis enables to give simple proofs of the irreducibility of the Steinberg representations mentioned above. It is possible to evaluate the Steinberg character for most of the group elements. Some curious (nonirreducible) representations of the Mathieu groups also arise. Finally, the models of projective planes of order n in a vector space over GF(2) of dimension \(n^ 3\) are constructed in such a way that it is possible to identify collineations of the plane with ''triangle preserving'' nonsingular linear transformations of the space.