Some two-character sets (Q2638403)

A \textit{two-character set} in \(PG(d,q)\) is a set of points in \(PG(d,q)\) whose intersection with any hyperplane has only two possibly sizes. There are many connections to two-weight codes, strongly regular graphs, and so on [see \textit{R. Calderbank} and \textit{W. M. Kantor}, Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 18, 97--122 (1986; Zbl 0582.94019)]. For any odd prime power \(q\), there is a well-known theory of commuting orthogonal and unitary polarities of \(\Sigma=PG(3,q^2).\) In particular, the product of any such pair of commuting polarities is a non-linear collineation whose fixed points form a non-degenerate quadric \({\mathcal Q}_0\) in some Baer subgeometry \(\Sigma_0 \cong PG(3,q)\) of \(\Sigma.\) If \({\mathcal Q}_0\) is hyperbolic, the authors construct a two-character set in \(\Sigma\) of cardinality \(q(q-1)(q^2+1)\) which meets each plane of \(\Sigma\) in \(q^2-q\) or \(2q^2-q\) points. This construction does not really use the Hermitian surface associated with the unitary polarity, and there is no discussion on whether these two-character sets generate new codes and/or new strongly regular graphs. When \({\mathcal Q}_0\) is elliptic, the authors construct two-character sets only for \(q=3.\) Their construction does not work for \(q\geq 5\) in this case. In fact, there are three two-character sets of \(PG(3,9)\) constructed: one has cardinality \(120\) and meets each plane in \(12\) or \(21\) points; one has cardinality \(180\) and meets each plane in \(18\) or \(27\) points; and one has cardinality \(220\) and meets each plane in \(22\) or \(31\) points. The authors state the associated strongly regular graphs appear to be new. The final construction occurs in \(PG(5,4)\) and involves the split Cayley hexagon \(H(2)\). Here the authors construct fifteen two-character sets with various parameters. Each of these two-character sets has \(PSU(3,3)\) acting as an automorphism group. There is no discussion about whether these examples generate new strongly regular graphs.