Blocking sets of \(\mathcal H(n, q^2)\) with respect to generators (Q2431598)

This article constructs a family of minimal blocking sets of size \(q^{n-1}(q+1)\) with respect to the generators of the Hermitian variety \(H(n,q^2)\), \(n\) odd and \(q\) odd. This blocking set arises from \(q+1\) quadrics in PG\((n,q^2)\) whose polarities commute with the unitary polarity defining the Hermitian variety \(H(n,q^2)\). These quadrics lead to \(q+1\) Baer subquadrics \(Q(n,q)\). The union of these \(q+1\) Baer subquadrics, minus their (common) intersection, is the constructed minimal blocking set of \(H(n,q^2)\), \(q\) odd and \(n\) odd, with respect to the generators of \(H(n,q^2)\). This construction generalizes the construction of \textit{A. Cossidente} [Des. Codes Cryptography 51, No. 2, 123--129 (2008; Zbl 1404.51006)] for the case \(n=3\).