Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-jr42d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T06:05:09.258Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

On nonics, ovals and codes in Desarguesian planes of even order

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 September 2010

David Glynn
Affiliation:
This research was supported by a von Humboldt Fellowship at the University of Tubingen, and gratitude is due to a delayed rapido between Florence and Bologna.
F. de Clerck
Affiliation:
Universiteit Gent, Belgium
J. Hirschfeld
Affiliation:
University of Sussex
Get access

Summary

Abstract

A nonic in PG(2, q), q = 2h, is defined to be either a non-degenerate conic plus its nucleus, or a degenerate conic, different from a repeated line, minus its nucleus. It is noted that every nonic is in the dual-line code of the plane, and so several questions arise. Can we have collections of nonics generating this code? Each oval (or (q + 2)-arc) is the sum (mod 2) of various numbers of nonics – what is the minimum number?

Introduction

There are four kinds of conics in a projective plane π := PG(2, q) over a finite field GF(q); see [5]. These are:

  1. (1) irreducible conic, having precisely q + 1 points;

  2. (2) distinct lines, having 2q + 1 points;

  3. (3) lines in the quadratic extension PG(2, q2), intersecting in a point of π, and so having only one point;

  4. (4) repeated line.

When q is even (and so q = 2h) the first three types of conies define a certain point called the nucleus, which lies on the conic if and only if the conic is reducible. In the first case it is the point of intersection of all the tangents; in the second it is the intersection of the two lines; in the third case the nucleus is the only point of π that is on the conic.

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×