Residual \(q\)-Fano planes and related structures (Q1753097)

Summary: One of the most intriguing problems for \(q\)-analogs of designs, is the existence question of an infinite family of \(q\)-Steiner systems that are not spreads. In particular the most interesting case is the existence question for the \(q\)-analog of the Fano plane, known also as the \(q\)-Fano plane. These questions are in the front line of open problems in block design. There was a common belief and a conjecture that such structures do not exist. Only recently, \(q\)-Steiner systems were found for one set of parameters. In this paper, a definition for the \(q\)-analog of the residual design is presented. This new definition is different from previous known definition, but its properties reflect better the \(q\)-analog properties. The existence of a design with the parameters of the residual \(q\)-Steiner system in general and the residual \(q\)-Fano plane in particular are examined. We construct different residual \(q\)-Fano planes for all \(q\), where \(q\) is a prime power. The constructed structure is just one step from a construction of a \(q\)-Fano plane.