Small maximal partial ovoids of \(H(3,q^2)\) (Q852431)

A partial ovoid of a generalized quadrangle \(Q\) is a set of points meeting each line of \(Q\) in at most 1 point. A partial ovoid is called maximal if it is not properly contained in another partial ovoid. A trivial lower bound for the size of a maximal partial ovoid of the generalized quadrangle \(H(3,q^2)\) is \(q^2+1\). By [\textit{A. Aguglia, G. L. Ebert} and \textit{D. Luyckx}, Bull. Belg. Math. Soc. Simon Stevin 12, 641--650 (2005)], this bound can be obtained if and only if \(q\) is even. The author shows that a maximal partial ovoid of \(H(3,q^2)\), \(q\) odd, has at least \(q^2+1 + \frac{4}{9}q\) points.