On relative \(t\)-designs in polynomial association schemes (Q907238)

Summary: Motivated by the similarities between the theory of spherical \(t\)-designs and that of \(t\)-designs in \(Q\)-polynomial association schemes, we study two versions of relative \(t\)-designs, the counterparts of Euclidean \(t\)-designs for \(P\)- and/or \(Q\)-polynomial association schemes. We develop the theory based on the Terwilliger algebra, which is a noncommutative associative semisimple \(C\)-algebra associated with each vertex of an association scheme. We compute explicitly the Fisher type lower bounds on the sizes of relative \(t\)-designs, assuming that certain irreducible modules behave nicely. The two versions of relative \(t\)-designs turn out to be equivalent in the case of the Hamming schemes. From this point of view, we establish a new algebraic characterization of the Hamming schemes.