Counting configurations in designs (Q5953380)

An \(n\)-line configuration of a \(t\)-\((v,k,\lambda)\) design is a set of \(n\) blocks. The collection of configurations can be partitioned according to isomorphism and cardinalities of the resulting isomorphism classes can be considered. The author gives linear equations relating these cardinalities. For any fixed choice of \(t\) and \(k\), the coefficients in these equations can be expressed as functions of \(v\) and \(\lambda\) and so depend only on the design's parameters, and not its structure. This provides a characterization of the elements of a generating set for \(m\)-line configurations of an arbitrary design.