Combining results on quadrics in projective geometries with an algebraic interplay between finite fields and Galois rings, we construct the first known family of partial difference sets with negative Latin square type parameters in nonelementary abelian groups, the groups $\Z_4^{2k}\times \Z_2^{4 \ell-4k}$ for all $k$ when $\ell$ is odd and for all $k < \ell$ when $\ell$ is even. Similarly, we construct partial difference sets with Latin square type parameters in the same groups for all $k$ when $\ell$ is even and for all $k<\ell$ when $\ell$ is odd. These constructions provide the first example that the non-homomorphic bijection approach outlined by Hagita and Schmidt \cite{hagitaschmidt} can produce difference sets in groups that previously had no known constructions. Computer computations indicate that the strongly regular graphs associated to the PDSs are not isomorphic to the known graphs, and we conjecture that the family of strongly regular graphs will be new.
Partial difference sets (for short, PDSs) with parameters ($n^2$, $r(n-ε)$, $εn+r^2-3εr$, $r^2-εr$) are called Latin square type (respectively negative Latin square type) PDSs if $ε=1$ (respectively $ε=-1$). In this paper, we will give restrictions on the parameter $r$ of a (negative) Latin square type partial difference set in an abelian group of non-prime power order. As far as we know no previous general restrictions on $r$ were known. Our restrictions are particularly useful when $a$ is much larger than $b$. As an application, we show that if there exists an abelian negative Latin square t…
We address a question of Cavenagh and Wanless asking: which finite abelian groups arise as the canonical group of a spherical latin bitrade? We prove the existence of an infinite family of finite abelian groups that do not arise as canonical groups of spherical latin bitrades. Using a connection between abelian sandpile groups of digraphs underlying directed Eulerian spherical embeddings, we go on to provide several, general, families of finite abelian groups that do arise as canonical groups. These families include: any abelian group in which each component of the Smith Normal Form has compos…
Let $T = (T^{\textstyle \ast}, T^{\scriptscriptstyle \triangle})$ be a spherical latin bitrade. With each $a=(a_1,a_2,a_3)\in T^{\textstyle \ast}$ associate a set of linear equations $\eq(T,a)$ of the form $b_1+b_2=b_3$, where $b = (b_1,b_2,b_3)$ runs through $T^{\textstyle \ast} \setminus \{a\}$. Assume $a_1 = 0 = a_2$ and $a_3 = 1$. Then $\eq(T,a)$ has in rational numbers a unique solution $b_i = \bar b_i$. Suppose that $\bar b_i \ne \bar c_i$ for all $b,c \in T^{\textstyle \ast}$ such that $b_i \ne c_i$ and $i \in \{1,2,3\}$. We prove that then $T^{\scriptscriptstyle \triangle}$ can be inte…
We construct sequencings for many groups that are a semi-direct product of an odd-order abelian group and a cyclic group of odd prime order. It follows from these constructions that there is a group-based complete Latin square of order $n$ if and only if $n \in \{ 1,2,4\}$ or there is a non-abelian group of order $n$.
Regarding neighbor balance, we consider natural generalizations of $D$-complete Latin squares and Vatican squares from the finite to the infinite. We show that if $G$ is an infinite abelian group with $|G|$-many square elements, then it is possible to permute the rows and columns of the Cayley table to create an infinite Vatican square. We also construct a Vatican square of any given infinite order that is not obtainable by permuting the rows and columns of a Cayley table. Regarding orthogonality, we show that every infinite group $G$ has a set of $|G|$ mutually orthogonal orthomorphisms and h…
In 1998, Khodkar showed that the minimal critical set in the Latin square corresponding to the elementary abelian 2-group of order 16 is of size at most 124. Since the paper was published, improved methods for solving integer programming problems have been developed. Here we give an example of a critical set of size 121 in this Latin square, found through such methods. We also give a new upper bound on the size of critical sets of minimal size for the elementary abelian 2-group of order $2^n$: $4^{n}-3^{n}+4-2^{n}-2^{n-2}$. We speculate about possible lower bounds for this value, given some ot…
Applying results from partial difference sets, quadratic forms, and recent results of Brouwer and Van Dam, we construct the first known amorphic association scheme with negative Latin square type graphs and whose underlying set is a non-elementary abelian 2-group. We give a simple proof of a result of Hamilton that generalizes Brouwer's result. We use multiple distinct quadratic forms to construct amorphic association schemes with a large number of classes.
We consider latin square graphs $Γ= \rm{LSG}(H)$ of the Cayley table of a given finite group $H$. We characterize all pairs $(Γ,G)$, where $G$ is a subgroup of autoparatopisms of the Cayley table of $H$ such that $G$ acts arc-transitively on $Γ$ and all nontrivial $G$-normal quotient graphs of $Γ$ are complete. We show that $H$ must be elementary abelian and determine the number $k$ of complete normal quotients. This yields new infinite families of diameter two arc-transitive graphs with $k = 1$ or $k = 2$.
For a finite triangulation of the plane with faces properly coloured white and black, let A be the abelian group constructed by labelling the vertices with commuting indeterminates and adding relations which say that the labels around each white triangle add to the identity. We show that A has free rank exactly two. Let A* be the torsion subgroup of A, and B* the corresponding group for the black triangles. We show that A* and B* have the same order, and conjecture that they are isomorphic. For each spherical latin trade W, we show there is a unique disjoint mate B such that (W,B) is a connect…
A packing of partial difference sets is a collection of disjoint partial difference sets in a finite group $G$. This configuration has received considerable attention in design theory, finite geometry, coding theory, and graph theory over many years, although often only implicitly. We consider packings of certain Latin square type partial difference sets in abelian groups having identical parameters, the size of the collection being either the maximum possible or one smaller. We unify and extend numerous previous results in a common framework, recognizing that a particular subgroup reveals imp…
The chromatic number of a latin square $L$, denoted $χ(L)$, is the minimum number of partial transversals needed to cover all of its cells. It has been conjectured that every latin square satisfies $χ(L) \leq |L|+2$. If true, this would resolve a longstanding conjecture---commonly attributed to Brualdi---that every latin square has a partial transversal of size $|L|-1$. Restricting our attention to Cayley tables of finite groups, we prove two main results. First, we resolve the chromatic number question for Cayley tables of finite Abelian groups: the Cayley table of an Abelian group $G$ has ch…
Davis and Jedwab (1997) established a great construction theory unifying many previously known constructions of difference sets, relative difference sets and divisible difference sets. They introduced the concept of building blocks, which played an important role in the theory. On the other hand, Polhill (2010) gave a construction of Paley type partial difference sets (conference graphs) based on a special system of building blocks, called a covering extended building set, and proved that there exists a Paley type partial difference set in an abelian group of order $9^iv^4$ for any odd positiv…
A difference matrix over a group is a discrete structure that is intimately related to many other combinatorial designs, including mutually orthogonal Latin squares, orthogonal arrays, and transversal designs. Interest in constructing difference matrices over $2$-groups has been renewed by the recent discovery that these matrices can be used to construct large linking systems of difference sets, which in turn provide examples of systems of linked symmetric designs and association schemes. We survey the main constructive and nonexistence results for difference matrices, beginning with a classic…
We use heuristic algorithms to find terraces for small groups. We show that Bailey's Conjecture (that all groups other than the non-cyclic elementary abelian 2-groups are terraced) holds up to order 511, except possibly at orders 256 and 384. We also show that Keedwell's Conjecture (that all non-abelian groups of order at least 10 are sequenceable) holds up to order 255, and for the groups $A_6$, $S_6$, $PSL(2,q_1)$ and $PGL(2, q_2)$ where $q_1$ and $q_2$ are prime powers with $3 \leq q_1 \leq 11$ and $3 \leq q_2 \leq 8$. A sequencing for a group of a given order implies the existence of a com…
Let G be any additive abelian group with cyclic torsion subgroup, and let A, B and C be finite subsets of G with cardinality n>0. We show that there is a numbering {a_i}_{i=1}^n of the elements of A, a numbering {b_i}_{i=1}^n of the elements of B and a numbering {c_i}_{i=1}^n of the elements of C, such that all the sums a_i+b_i+c_i (i=1,...,n) are distinct. Consequently, each subcube of the Latin cube formed by the Cayley addition table of Z/NZ contains a Latin transversal. This additive theorem can be further extended via restricted sumsets in a field.
Let $G$ be a triangulation of the sphere with vertex set $V$, such that the faces of the triangulation are properly coloured black and white. Motivated by applications in the theory of bitrades, Cavenagh and Wanless defined $A_W$ to be the abelian group generated by the set $V$, with relations $r+c+s=0$ for all white triangles with vertices $r$, $c$ and $s$. The group $A_B$ can be defined similarly, using black triangles. The paper shows that $A_W$ and $A_B$ are isomorphic, thus establishing the truth of a well-known conjecture of Cavenagh and Wanless. Connections are made between the structur…
In the paper, we study special configurations of lines and points in the complex projective plane, so called k-nets. We describe the role of these configurations in studies of cohomology on arrangement complements. Our most general result is the restriction on k - it can be only 3,4, or 5. The most interesting class of nets is formed by 3-nets that relate to finite geometries, latin squares, loops, etc. All known examples of 3-nets in P^2 realize finite Abelian groups. We study the problem what groups can be so realized. Our main result is that, except for groups with all invariant factors und…
In an earlier paper by three of the present authors and Csaba Schneider, it was shown that, for $m\ge2$, a set of $m+1$ partitions of a set $Ω$, any $m$ of which are the minimal non-trivial elements of a Cartesian lattice, either form a Latin square (if $m=2$), or generate a join-semilattice of dimension $m$ associated with a diagonal group over a base group $G$. In this paper we investigate what happens if we have $m+r$ partitions with $r\geq 2$, any $m$ of which are minimal elements of a Cartesian lattice. If $m=2$, this is just a set of mutually orthogonal Latin squares. We consider the cas…
