Small quasimultiple affine and projective planes: Some improved bounds (Q4222162)

The author studies the question of existence of quasimultiple affine and projective planes. A quasimultiple affine plane of order \(n\) and multiplicity \(\lambda\) is defined to be a \(2-(n^2,n,\lambda)\) design. Similarly, a quasimultiple projective plane of order \(n\) and multiplicity \(\lambda\) is a \(2-(n^2+n+1,n+1,\lambda)\) design. The number \(a(n)\) is defined to be the smallest multiplicity \(\lambda\) such that there exists a quasimultiple affine plane of order \(n\) and multiplicity \(\lambda\). The number \(p(n)\) is the corresponding number for quasimultiple projective planes. Following Jungnickel, both of \(a(n)\), \(p(n)\) are bounded by the number \(r(n)\) which is the smallest \(\lambda\) such that there exists a resolvable \(2-(n^2,n,\lambda)\) design. Buratti presents various constructions of resolvable \(2-(n^2,n,\lambda)\) designs using (relative) difference families. All of these constructions are encoded as upper estimates on the number \(r(n)\). Finally, a theorem of Greig is presented which states the existence of a quasimultiple affine plane of order \(n\) and multiplicity 2 if both of \(n-1\) and \(n+1\) are prime powers. This final theorem is proved by a direct construction of the blocks of the quasimultiple affine plane.