On symmetric spatial configurations (Q1322272)

The paper is concerned with symmetric 2-configurations \((v_ k)_ 2\) consisting of \(v\) points and \(v\) lines, \(k\) points on a line and \(k\) lines through a point, 2 lines have at most 2 points in common and 2 points are connected by at most 2 lines. Some special (historical) constructions are mentioned, for instance a \((7_ 4)_ 2\)-configuration by Kirkman, a \((16_ 6)_ 2\)-configuration by Kummer and a \((11_ 5)_ 2\)-configuration by Hadamard. Semibiplanes and some regular graph designs are special cases of these 2- configurations and are therefore not considered in this paper. By generalizing Golomb rulers the author obtains ``triangles'' showing the existence of \((v_ 3)_ 2\)-configurations for \(v \geq 4\), \((v_ 4)_ 2\)-configurations for \(v \geq 7\), \((v_ 5)_ 2\)-configurations for \(v \geq 11\), \((v_ 6)_ 2\)-configurations for \(v \geq 18\), \((v_ 7)_ 2\)-configurations for \(v \geq 24\) and \((v_ 8)_ 2\)-configurations for \(v \geq 34\). A special construction for a \((17_ 6)_ 2\)-configuration is given. The paper ends with a table showing existence results for these configurations. The first entry from the table for which the existence problem is open is a \((23_ 7)_ 2\)-configuration.