Partial flocks of the quadratic cone yielding Mathon maximal arcs

DOI10.1016/J.DISC.2012.04.028MaRDI QIDQ442338zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Stefaan De Winter, T. Maes, F. De Clerck

Publication date 10 August 2012

Published in Discrete Mathematics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1110.1667

zbMATH Keywords

arcs of Mathon typehyperovalsmaximal arcs

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Combinatorial aspects of finite geometries (05B25) Blocking sets, ovals, (k)-arcs (51E21)

Abstract: N. Hamilton and J. A. Thas describe a link between maximal arcs of Mathon type and partial flocks of the quadratic cone. This link is of a rather algebraic nature. In this paper we establish a geometric connection between these two structures. We also define a composition on the flock planes and use this to work out an analogue of the synthetic version of Mathon's Theorem. Finally, we show how it is possible to construct a maximal arc of Mathon type of degree 2d, containing a Denniston arc of degree d provided that there is a solution to a certain given system of trace conditions.

Review text

An \([n,d]\) arc in a projective plane of order \(q\) is a set of \(k\) points such that some line meets the arc in \(d\) points but no line meets the arc in more than \(d\) points. The arc is said to be maximal if \(k= q(d-1)+d\). It has been shown that if \(C\) is a set of closed conics in \(\mathrm{PG}(2,q)\), \(q\) even, then the union of the points of the conics of \(C\) together with their common nucleus is a degree \(|C|+1\) maximal arc in \(\mathrm{PG}(2,q)\). Arcs of this type are known arcs of as Mathon type.NEWLINENEWLINE NEWLINEHamilton and Thas previously have described a link between maximal arcs of Mathon type and partial flocks of the quadratic cone. The authors give a geometric link between these two structures. A partial flock is a set of disjoint non-singular conics on a cone. It is said to be complete if it is not contained in a larger flock. A plane containing the conics is called a flock plane. Using a definition of composition on the flock planes, the authors give an analogue of the synthetic version of Mathon's theorem. Additionally, they show how it is possible to construct a maximal arc of Mathon type of degree \(2d\), containing a Denniston arc of degree \(d\) provided that there is a solution to a certain given system of trace conditions.

Recommendations

• Maximal arcs in PG(2, q) and partial flocks of the quadratic cone
• A geometric approach to Mathon maximal arcs
• k-arcs and partial flocks
• On Mathon's construction of maximal arcs in Desarguesian planes. II
• More maximal arcs in Desarguesian projective planes and their geometric structure

Cites work

• k-arcs and partial flocks
• A geometric approach to Mathon maximal arcs
• Algebraic curves and maximal arcs
• Maximal arcs in Desarguesian planes of odd order do not exist
• Maximal arcs in PG(2, q) and partial flocks of the quadratic cone
• More maximal arcs in Desarguesian projective planes and their geometric structure
• New maximal arcs in Desarguesian planes
• Some maximal arcs in finite projective planes

Cited in

(6)

• k-arcs and partial flocks
• Editorial: Special issue on finite geometries in honor of Frank De Clerck
• Open problems in finite projective spaces
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4171827 (Why is no real title available?)
• Some new two-weight ternary and quinary codes of lengths six and twelve
• Maximal arcs in PG(2, q) and partial flocks of the quadratic cone

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