Nets of small degree without ovals (Q1877349)

In this paper \(r\)-nets of many different orders without ovals and additional \(r\)-nets of many other orders without hyperovals are constructed. In this connection it is remarked that many nets with ovals and hyperovals have been constructed by the authors [\textit{D. A. Drake}, J. Comb. Des. 10, No. 5, 322--334 (2002; Zbl 1011.51004) and \textit{D. A. Drake} and \textit{W. Myrvold}, Des. Codes Cryptography 33, No. 1, 63--69 (2004; Zbl 1046.05016)] and by \textit{G. J. Simmons} [Congr. Numerantium 73, 181--204 (1990; Zbl 0702.51009)]. The article contains a lot of particular results (structures), in particular 3-nets without hyperovals, rings and \(r\)-nets without ovals for \(n= 4,5,6\) (including projective plane and Desarguesian affine plane). An extensive table presents the current state of knowledge of the existence of \(r\)-nets of order \(n\) with and without ovals and hyperovals for \(n\leq 16\).