No label defined (Q4240563)

Steiner triple systems \(\text{STS}(v)\) have long been known to exist for all admissible values of \(v\). Little however, is known about the number of \(\text{STS}(v)\) for a given value of \(v\). To enumerate Steiner triple systems requires knowledge of their structure and in particular of the configurations they contain. A configuration is simply a collection of triples in a partial design (for example there are five possible configurations of three triples). In this survey paper the authors review results on configurations in \(\text{STS}(v)\). The sections address: (1) enumeration of non-isomorphic configurations of \(n\) triples for small \(n\) and their interrelation; (2) the decomposition of \(\text{STS}(v)\) into isomorphic configurations; (3) the construction of \(\text{STS}(v)\) which do not contain a particular configuration; and (4) extremal systems and colouring problems. No proofs are given. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0911.00024].