Covering of Subspaces by Subspaces

Lower and upper bounds on the size of a covering of subspaces in the Grassmann graph \cG_q(n,r) by subspaces from the Grassmann graph \cG_q(n,k), $k \geq r$, are discussed. The problem is of interest from four points of view: coding theory, combinatorial designs, $q$-analogs, and projective geometry. In particular we examine coverings based on lifted maximum rank distance codes, combined with spreads and a recursive construction. New constructions are given for $q=2$ with $r=2$ or $r=3$. We discuss the density for some of these coverings. Tables for the best known coverings, for $q=2$ and $5 \leq n \leq 10$, are presented. We present some questions concerning possible constructions of new coverings of smaller size.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:0805.352

Freiman's theorem in finite fields via extremal set theory

Using various results from extremal set theory (interpreted in the language of additive combinatorics), we prove an asyptotically sharp version of Freiman's theorem in F_2^n: if A in F_2^n is a set for which |A + A| <= K|A| then A is contained in a subspace of size 2^{2K + O(\sqrt{K}\log K)}|A|; except for the O(\sqrt{K} \log K) error, this is best possible. If in addition we assume that A is a downset, then we can also cover A by O(K^{46}) translates of a coordinate subspace of size at most |A|, thereby verifying the so-called polynomial Freiman-Ruzsa conjecture in this case. A common theme in the arguments is the use of compression techniques. These have long been familiar in extremal set theory, but have been used only rarely in the additive combinatorics literature.Comment: 18 page

Families of nested completely regular codes and distance-regular graphs

In this paper infinite families of linear binary nested completely regular codes are constructed. They have covering radius $\rho$ equal to $3$ or $4$, and are $1/2^i$-th parts, for $i\in\{1,\ldots,u\}$ of binary (respectively, extended binary) Hamming codes of length $n=2^m-1$ (respectively, $2^m$), where $m=2u$. In the usual way, i.e., as coset graphs, infinite families of embedded distance-regular coset graphs of diameter $D$ equal to $3$ or $4$ are constructed. In some cases, the constructed codes are also completely transitive codes and the corresponding coset graphs are distance-transitive