On defining sets for projective planes (Q2576848)

A set \(X\) of lines of a projective plane \(P\) is called defining, if \(P\) is the only projective plane containing \(X\). By sharpening results of \textit{J. Kahn} [Combinatorica 12, 417--423 (1992; Zbl 0768.05027)], the authors prove that every finite projective plane of sufficiently large order \(q\) has a defining set of size at most \(22 q \log q\). Moreover, the desarguesian plane \(PG(2,q)\) of order \(q\) has a defining set of size at most \(5 q \sqrt{q\log q}\); this improves a result of \textit{B. D. Gray, N. Hamilton} and \textit{C. M. O'Keefe} [Bull. Inst. Comb. Appl. 21, 91--94 (1997; Zbl 0881.05016)], compare also \textit{S. J. Kovács} [Rend. Mat. Roma 12, 157--164 (1992; Zbl 0757.05036)].