Difference sets in Abelian 2-groups (Q1175955)

Abelian difference sets of groups of order \(g=2^{2d+2}\) are construed as union of cosets of subgroups of rank \(d+1\). Proofs use heavily a result of \textit{R. J. Turyn} [Pac. J. Math. 15, No. 1, 319-346 (1965; Zbl 0135.05403)] and complex interesting new ideas. In particular, if \(C\) is a cyclic group of order \(2^ h\), the direct products \(C\times C\) and \(C\times D\) (\(D\) cyclic of order \(2^{2+h}\)) admit difference sets, and this is very useful to (partially) fill the gap of knowledge of existence of abelian difference sets (of size \(k=2^{2d+1}-2^ d\)) in groups of ordere \(g\), exponent \(e\leq d+3\) and rank \(r\leq d+1\). Finally five open problems are given. Recently R. G. Krämer proved that \(e\leq d+3\) is a sufficient condition for existence.