The geometry of frequency squares (Q5953382)

The authors establish a correspondence between mutually orthogonal frequency squares (MOFS) (which are themselves generalizations of mutually orthogonal Latin squares (MOLS)) and \`\` framed\'\'\ nets. In particular, they obtain a geometric characterization of complete sets of MOFS in terms of the existence of a certain type of partially balanced incomplete block design based on the \(L_2\)-association scheme. This correspsondence greatly extends the correspondence between complete sets of MOLS and affine planes first obtained by R. C. Bose. In addition, it improves some of the results of \textit{C. F. Laywine} and \textit{G. L. Mullen} [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 61, No. 1, 13-35 (1992; Zbl 0760.05011)].