Computer search for small complete caps (Q1841870)

A cap \(K\) in a projective space PG\((d,q)\) of dimension \(d\) over the finite field GF\((q)\) is a set of points no three of which are collinear. A cap \(K\) is complete if any point outside \(K\) is a bisecant of \(K\). Let \(n_2(d,q)\) be the minimum number of points of a complete cap in PG\((d,q)\). By applying a stochastic local computer search, called record-to-record travel, the author is able to find 14 new complete caps, resulting in new upper bounds for \(n_2(d,q)\), namely \(n_2(3,7) \leq 17\), \(n_2(3,8) \leq 20\), \(n_2(3,9) \leq 24\), \(n_2(3,11) \leq 30\), \(n_2(3,13) \leq 37\), \(n_2(3,17) \leq 52\), \(n_2(4,5) \leq 31\), \(n_2(4,7) \leq 57\), \(n_2(4,8) \leq 72\), \(n_2(4,9) \leq 88\), \(n_2(5,4) \leq 50\), and \(n_2(5,5) \leq 83\).