Desarguesian nets without ovals (Q2642027)

In the Desarguesian affine plane \(\Pi(D)\) coordinatized by a division ring \(D\), an \(n\)-arc \(K\) is a set of \(n\) points no three of which collinear. If the number of directions determined by the secants of \(K\) is precisely \(n\), then \(K\) is said to be an oval in the Desarguesian \(n\)-net defined by such directions. Investigations on ovals in Desarguesian nets were stimulated by the work of \textit{G. J. Simmons} [Congr. Numerantium 73, 181--204 (1990; Zbl 0702.51009)], who proposed a geometric secret sharing scheme for multilevel access structures based on arcs in finite Desarguesian affine planes \(AG(2,q)\) determining few directions. In some earlier papers by the author et al. [Congr. Numerantium 157, 141--148 (2002; Zbl 1040.51002), Des. Codes Cryptography 31, No. 3, 195--212 (2004; Zbl 1061.51006), Des. Codes Cryptography 32, No. 1-3, 167--183 (2004; Zbl 1061.51007)], a number of conditions for \(\Pi(D)\) to hold an \(n\)-net without ovals were established. Here, the cases \(n=6\) and \(n=7\) are dealt with. The main results of the paper are the following: 1) let the characteristic of \(D\) be odd, and let \(n\in \{6,7\}\); then a necessary and sufficient condition for \(\Pi(D)\) to hold a \(n\)-net without ovals is \(| D| \geq 9\); 2) let the characteristic of \(D\) be even; if \(| D| \geq 8\) and \(D\) has at most one subfield of order \(4\), then \(\Pi(D)\) holds a \(6\)-net without an oval; 3) assume that \(D\) is a finite field of even order \(q=2^e\) with gcd\((3,e)\)=1; then a necessary and sufficient contidion for \(\Pi(D)\) to hold a \(7\)-net without ovals is \(| D| \geq 16\).