Sets with few intersection numbers from Singer subgroup orbits (Q5942866)

Let \(\pi\) be a projective plane of order \(q\). A set \(S\) of points in \(\pi\) is said to be of type \((a_0,\dots ,a_k)\) if for every line there exists \(i\) such that the line meets \(S\) in \(a_i\) points, and for each \(a_i\), some line meets \(S\) in \(a_i\) points. The numbers \(a_i\) are called intersection numbers of the set. Of particular interest are sets which have few intersection numbers. In the paper under review, the authors investigate certain sets with few intersection numbers, namely Singer subgroup orbits. By a detailed algebraic and geometric analysis they show that the system analyzed in \textit{A. E. Brouwer} [Eur. J. Comb. 1, 39-41 (1980; Zbl 0472.05013)] can actually get three distinct solutions for \(q=p^{2n}\), \(p\) prime and \((q \equiv 1 \pmod 3).\) From a geometric point of view, they introduce a particular incidence structure whose points are complete arcs of \(PG(2,q)\) and whose blocks are classical unitals with inclusion as incidence. This incidence structure turns out to be isomorphic to \(PG(2,\sqrt q)\) and represents the main tool of their investigation.