Foldings of difference sets in abelian groups (Q1299995)

Let the groups \(G=(Z_p)^l\times Z_{p^t}\) and \(G'=(Z_p)^l\times Z_{p^{r_1}} \times Z_{p^{r_2}}\times\cdots\times Z_{p^{r_s}}\) have the same order. The author introduces a natural (non-homomorphic) bijection \(f:G\rightarrow G'\). If \(G\) has a \((v,k,\lambda)\)-difference set \(D\) of square order \(m^2\) such that for all nontrivial characters \(\chi\) of \(G\) the value \(\chi(D)\) is divisible by \(m\) then \(f(D)\) is a \((v,k,\lambda)\)-DS. More general results are also obtained.