Constant rank-distance sets of Hermitian matrices and partial spreads in Hermitian polar spaces (Q405107)

Summary: In this paper we investigate partial spreads of \(H(2n-1,q^2)\) through the related notion of partial spread sets of hermitian matrices, and the more general notion of constant rank-distance sets. We prove a tight upper bound on the maximum size of a linear constant rank-distance set of hermitian matrices over finite fields, and as a consequence prove the maximality of extensions of symplectic semifield spreads as partial spreads of \(H(2n-1,q^2)\). We prove upper bounds for constant rank-distance sets for even rank, construct large examples of these, and construct maximal partial spreads of \(H(3,q^2)\) for a range of sizes.