\(m\)-systems and partial \(m\)-systems of polar spaces (Q677176)

Let \(P\) be a finite classical polar space of rank \(r\), with \(r\geq 2\). A partial \(m\)-system of \(P\), with \(0\leq m\leq r-1\) is any set \(\{\pi_1, \dots, \pi_k\}\) of \(k\) totally singular \(m\)-spaces of \(P\) such that no maximal totally singular subspace (generator) containing \(\pi_i\) has a point in common with \((\pi_1\cup \cdots \cup\pi_k) -\pi_i\), \(i=1, \dots, k\). A partial 0-system is also called a partial ovoid, or a \(k\)-cap. Shult and Thas established the upper bound for the number of elements of the partial \(m\)-system \(M\). If this bound is reached, then \(M\) is called \(m\)-system of \(P\). In this paper the authors improve in many cases the upper bound for the number of elements of the partial \(m\)-system, thus proving the nonexistence of several classes of \(m\)-systems. For example, the polar space \(P\) over the field of even characteristic admits no 1-system in the following cases: \(W_{2n+1} (q)\), with \(n\geq 6\); \(Q (2n, q)\) with \(n\geq 7\); \(Q^+ (2n+1,q)\), with \(n\geq 7\); \(Q^- (2n+1,q)\), with \(n\geq 6\); \(H(2n, q^2)\), with \(n\geq 6\); \(H(2n +1,q^2)\), with \(n\geq 7\).