Bol quasifields

In the context of configurational characterisations of symmetric projective planes, a new proof of a theorem of Kallaher and Ostrom characterising planes of even order of Lenz-Barlotti type IV.a.2 via Bol conditions is given. In contrast to their proof,we need neither the Feit-Thompson theorem on solvability of groups of odd order, nor Bender’s strongly embedded subgroup theorem, depending rather on Glauberman’s Z*-theorem

On the incidence map of incidence structures

By using elementary linear algebra methods we exploit properties of the incidence map of certain incidence structures with finite block sizes. We give new and simple proofs of theorems of Kantor and Lehrer, and their infinitary version. Similar results are obtained also for diagrams geometries. By mean of an extension of Block’s Lemma on the number of orbits of an automorphism group of an incidence structure, we give informations on the number of orbits of: a permutation group (of possible infinite degree) on subsets of finite size; a collineation group of a projective and affine space (of possible infinite dimension) over a finite field on subspaces of finite dimension; a group of isometries of a classical polar space (of possible infinite rank) over a finite field on totally isotropic subspaces (or singular in case of orthogonal spaces) of finite dimension. Furthermore, when the structure is finite and the associated incidence matrix has full rank, we give an alternative proof of a result of Camina and Siemons. We then deduce that certain families of incidence structures have no sharply transitive sets of automorphisms acting on blocks

Bol quasifields

In the context of configurational characterisations of symmetric projective planes, a new proof of a theorem of Kallaher and Ostrom characterising planes of even order of Lenz-Barlotti type IV.a.2 via Bol conditions is given. In contrast to their proof,we need neither the Feit-Thompson theorem on solvability of groups of odd order, nor Bender’s strongly embedded subgroup theorem, depending rather on Glauberman’s Z*-theorem

Classification of flocks of the quadratic cone in PG(3,64)

Flocks are an important topic in the field of finite geometry, with many relations with other objects of interest. This paper is a contribution to the difficult problem of classifying flocks up to projective equivalence. We complete the classification of flocks of the quadratic cone in PG(3,q) for q ≤ 71, by showing by computer that there are exactly three flocks of the quadratic cone in PG(3,64), up to equivalence. The three flocks had previously been discovered, and they are the linear flock, the Subiaco flock and the Adelaide flock. The classification proceeds via the connection between flocks and herds of ovals in PG(2,q), q even, and uses the prior classification of hyperovals in PG(2, 64)

Elation generalised quadrangles of order (s,p), where p is prime

We show that an elation generalised quadrangle which has p+1 lines on each point, for some prime p, is classical or arises from a flock of a quadratic cone (i.e., is a flock quadrangle).Comment: 14 page

Hyperovals in Hall planes

AbstractIn this paper we construct two classes of translation hyperovals in any Hall plane of even orderq2 ≥ 16. Two hyperovals constructed in the same Hall plane are equivalent under the action of the automorphism group of that Hall plane iff they are in the same class

Relation between o-equivalence and EA-equivalence for Niho bent functions

Boolean functions, and bent functions in particular, are considered up to so-called EA-equivalence, which is the most general known equivalence relation preserving bentness of functions. However, for a special type of bent functions, so-called Niho bent functions there is a more general equivalence relation called o-equivalence which is induced from the equivalence of o-polynomials. In the present work we study, for a given o-polynomial, a general construction which provides all possible o-equivalent Niho bent functions, and we considerably simplify it to a form which excludes EA-equivalent cases. That is, we identify all cases which can potentially lead to pairwise EA-inequivalent Niho bent functions derived from o-equivalence of any given Niho bent function. Furthermore, we determine all pairwise EA-inequivalent Niho bent functions arising from all known o-polynomials via o-equivalence.publishedVersio