Infinite family of large complete arcs in PG\((2, q ^{n })\), with \(q\) odd and \(n > 1\) odd (Q970537)

In a projective plane \(PG(2,q),\) a \(k-\)\textit{arc} \(\mathcal K\) \((k>2)\) is a set of \(k\) points, no three collinear. An arc not contained in a larger one is said to be complete. The \((n+1)-\)arcs are also called \textit{ovals}. In this paper a new infinite family of complete arcs has been constructed in the following way. In \(PG(2,q)\) \(q>5,\) let \(\mathcal C\) be an irreducible conic and let \(G\simeq PGL(2,q)\) be its collineation group and look at the action of \(G\) on \(PG(2,q^n),\) with \(n>1.\) If \({\mathcal C}'\) is the uniquely determined irreducible conic in \(PG(2,q^n)\) containing \(\mathcal C,\) then \(G\) preserves \({\mathcal C}'\) and acts faithfully on \({\mathcal C}'\setminus{\mathcal C}\) as a semi-regular permutation group. Let \(\Delta_1,\Delta_2, \dots,,\Delta_N\) be the \(G-\)orbits on \({\mathcal C}'\setminus{\mathcal C}.\) Under the action of its subgroup \(H\simeq PSL(2,q)\) each \(\Delta_i\) splits into two orbits, say \(\Delta_i=\Sigma_i^+\cup \Sigma_i^-.\) If \(\Sigma_i\) is anyone of the orbits \(\Sigma_i^+\) or \(\Sigma_i^-,\) put \(\Gamma=\Sigma_1\cup\Sigma_2\dots\cup \Sigma_N.\) If \(K\) is an arc in \(PG(2,q)\) such that the points of \(K\) not on \(\mathcal C\) are all internal or all external, according as \(q\equiv 1 (mod. 4)\) or \(q\equiv 3 (mod. 4),\) then \(K'=K \cup \Gamma\) is a complete arc of size \(\frac{1}{2}(q^n-q)+ |K|.\)