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Francesco Pavese

Publications and source records attributed to Francesco Pavese.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Segre Varieties and Desarguesian Spreads

Let $\mathrm{PG}(n-1,q)$ denote the $(n-1)$-dimensional projective space over $\mathbb{F}_q$. We investigate the intersection of two Desarguesian $(h-1)$-spreads of $\mathrm{PG}(kh-1,q)$ and show that it is determined by a subgeometry over a suitable extension field. Our approach combines a characterization of subsets of points of $\mathrm{PG}(k-1,q^h)$ closed under $q$-order subgeometries with a matrix model for Desarguesian spreads based on Moore matrices. This leads naturally to the notion of generalized Segre varieties $\mathcal S^r_{kr-1,h-1}(q)$ and a geometric description of their maximal subspaces. As a main application, we prove that if two distinct Desarguesian $(h-1)$-spreads of $\mathrm{PG}(kh-1,q)$ contain a common pseudo-arc of size $k+1$, then their intersection is precisely the system $\mathcal R^r_{h,q}$ of $(h-1)$-dimensional subspaces of $\mathcal S^r_{kr-1,h-1}(q)$, for some proper divisor $r$ of $h$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2026

$(r,s)$-sets from Desarguesian ovoids

An $(r, s)$-${\textit set}$ in ${\rm PG}(n, q)$ is a set of points, say $\mathcal X$, such that each $s$-dimensional projective subspace contains at most $r$ points of $\mathcal X$. We investigate $(n, n-2)$-sets and $(n-2, n-3)$-sets in ${\rm PG}(n, q)$, $n \le 6$. We show that the trivial upper bounds on $(n, n-2)$-sets in ${\rm PG}(n, q)$, $4 \le n \le 6$, $(4, 3)$-sets in ${\rm PG}(6, q)$ and $(3, 2)$-sets in ${\rm PG}(5, q)$ are essentially sharp. A $(3, 2)$-set in ${\rm PG}(13, q)$ of size $\frac{q^6-1}{q-1}$ is also constructed.

math.CO↗
arXiv2026

On pseudo-arcs from normal rational curve and additive MDS codes

Let $\mathrm{PG}(k-1,q)$ be the $(k-1)$-dimensional projective space over the finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$. An arc in $\mathrm{PG}(k-1,q)$ is a set of points with the property that any $k$ of them span the entire space. The notion of pseudo-arc generalizes that of an arc by replacing points with higher-dimensional subspaces. Constructions of pseudo-arcs can be obtained from arcs defined over extension fields; such pseudo-arcs are necessarily Desarguesian, in the sense that all their elements belong to a Desarguesian spread. In contrast, genuinely non-Desarguesian pseudo-arcs are far less understood and have previously been known only in a few sporadic cases. In this paper, we introduce a new infinite family of non-Desarguesian pseudo-arcs consisting of $(h-1)$-dimensional subspaces of $\mathrm{PG}(k-1,q)$ based on the imaginary spaces of a normal rational curve. We determine the size of the constructed pseudo-arcs explicitly and show that, by adding suitable osculating spaces of a normal rational curve defined over a subgeometry, we obtain pseudo-arcs of size $O(q^h)$. As $q$ grows, these sizes asymptotically attain the classical upper bound for pseudo-arcs established in 1971 by J.~A.~Thas, thereby showing that this bound is essentially sharp also in the non-Desarguesian setting. We further investigate the interaction between these new pseudo-arcs and quadrics. While Desarguesian pseudo-arcs from normal rational curve are complete intersections of quadrics, we prove that the new pseudo-arcs are not contained in any quadric of the ambient projective space. Finally, we translate our geometric results into coding theory. We show that the new pseudo-arcs correspond precisely to recent families of additive MDS codes introduced via a polynomial framework. As a consequence of their non-Desarguesian nature, we prove that these codes are not equivalent to linear MDS codes.

math.CO↗
arXiv2026

Chromatic Number of Grassmann Graphs and MRD codes

In this paper we investigate the chromatic number of the Grassmann graphs and of their powers, denoted $J_q(n,m,t)$. In this graph, the vertices correspond to the $m$-dimensional subspaces in $\mathbb{F}_q^n$ and two vertices are adjacent if the corresponding subspaces intersect in a subspace of dimension at least $t$. By generalizing the lifting technique of Silva, Kötter and Kschischang, we use \emph{maximum rank distance (MRD)} codes to establish that $χ(J_q(n, m, t)) \leq (1 +o(1))n^{m-t}q^{(n-m)(m-t)})$ when $n \geq 2m$. Given that $J_q(n, m, t)$ is isomorphic to $J_q(n,n-m,n-2m+t)$, this establishes a new upper bound on $J_q(n, m, t)$ for any valid choice of parameters. Furthermore, we observe that in the regime that $n, m $, and $t$ are fixed, our bound is asymptotically tight, implying that $ χ(J_q(n, m, t)) = Θ(q^{(m-t)\max(n-m, m)}). $

math.CO↗
arXiv2025

Zeros of special polynomials and their impact on a class of APN functions

In 2021, Calderini et al. introduced a construction for APN functions on $\mathbb{F}_{2^{2m}}$ in bivariate form $$ f(x,y)=\big(xy,\, x^{2^r+1} + x^{2^{r+m/2}} y^{2^{m/2}} + bxy^{2^r} + cy^{2^r+1}\big),\quad r < m/2,\quad \gcd(r, m) = 1. $$ They showed that this family exists provided the existence of a polynomial $$ P_{c,b}(X)=(cX^{2^r +1} + b X^{2^r}+1)^{2^{m/2}+1}+X^{2^{m/2}+1}, $$ with no zeros in $\mathbb{F}_{2^{2m}}$. For $m\le 6$ it was shown that we can have APN functions belonging to this family. However, up to now, no construction of such polynomials is known for $m\ge 8$. In this work we provide a non-existence result of such functions whenever $r<m/8-1$, by application of techniques from algebraic varieties over finite fields. In particular, for $r=1$ we have that the construction of Calderini et al. cannot provide an APN function for $m\ge 8$.

math.NT↗
arXiv2025

On line-parallelisms of PG(3, q)

Let $\mathrm{PG}(3, q)$ denote the three-dimensional projective space over the finite field with $q$ elements. A line-spread of $\mathrm{PG}(3, q)$ is a collection $\mathcal{S}$ of mutually skew lines such that every point of $\mathrm{PG}(3, q)$ lies on exactly one line of $\mathcal{S}$. A parallelism of $\mathrm{PG}(3, q)$ is a set $Π$ of mutually skew line-spreads of $\mathrm{PG}(3, q)$ such that every line of $\mathrm{PG}(3, q)$ is contained in precisely one line-spread of $Π$. For a Desarguesian spread $\mathcal{D}$ and an elementary abelian group $E$ of order $q^2$ that stabilizes $\mathcal{D}$ and one of its lines, let $\mathcal{T}$ be the class of parallelisms of $\mathrm{PG}(3, q)$ admitting $E$, and comprising $\mathcal{D}$ and $q^2+q$ Hall spreads, each of which is obtained by switching one of the $q^2+q$ reguli of $\mathcal{D}$ through its $E$-fixed line. In this paper, the parallelisms in $\mathcal{T}$ are characterized geometrically and enumerated. Moreover, it is shown that $\mathcal{T}$ contains at least $Θ(q^{q-1} q!)$ mutually inequivalent parallelisms for $q$ even, and at least $Θ(q^{2q-3})$ mutually inequivalent parallelisms when $q$ is odd.

math.CO↗
arXiv2025

Strongly regular graphs from hyperbolic quadrics and their maximal cliques

Let $Q^+(2n+1,q)$ be a hyperbolic quadric of $\PG(2n+1,q)$. Fix a generator $\Pi$ of the quadric. Define $\cG_n$ as the graph with as vertex set the points of $Q^+(2n+1,q)\setminus \Pi$ and two vertices adjacent if they either span a secant to $Q^+(2n+1,q)$ or a line contained in $Q^+(2n+1,q)$ meeting $\Pi$ non-trivially. Then such a construction defines a strongly regular graph, which is the complement of a (non-induced) subgraph of the collinearity graph of $Q^+(2n+1,q)$. In this paper, we directly compute the parameters of $\cG_n$, which is cospectral, when $q=2$, to the tangent graph $NO^+(2n+2,2)$, but it is non-isomorphic for $n\geq3$. We also classify the maximal cliques of $\cG_3$ for $q=2$, proving as a by-product the non-isomorphism with the graph $NO^+(8,2)$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2024

$q$-Analogs of divisible design graphs and Deza graphs

Divisible design graphs were introduced in 2011 by Haemers, Kharaghani and Meulenberg. In this paper, we introduce the notion of $q$-analogs of divisible design graphs and show that all $q$-analogs of divisible design graphs come from spreads, and are actually $q$-analogs of strongly regular graphs. Deza graphs were introduced by Erickson, Fernando, Haemers and Hardy in 1999. In this paper, we introduce $q$-analogs of Deza graphs. Further, we determine possible parameters, give examples of $q$-analogs of Deza graphs and characterize all non-strongly regular $q$-analogs of Deza graphs with the smallest parameters.

math.CO↗
arXiv2024

Affine vector space partitions and spreads of quadrics

An affine spread is a set of subspaces of $\mathrm{AG}(n, q)$ of the same dimension that partitions the points of $\mathrm{AG}(n, q)$. Equivalently, an {\em affine spread} is a set of projective subspaces of $\mathrm{PG}(n, q)$ of the same dimension which partitions the points of $\mathrm{PG}(n, q) \setminus H_{\infty}$; here $H_{\infty}$ denotes the hyperplane at infinity of the projective closure of $\mathrm{AG}(n, q)$. Let $\mathcal{Q}$ be a non degenerate quadric of $H_\infty$ and let $Π$ be a generator of $\mathcal{Q}$, where $Π$ is a $t$-dimensional projective subspace. An affine spread $\mathcal{P}$ consisting of $(t+1)$-dimensional projective subspaces of $\mathrm{PG}(n, q)$ is called hyperbolic, parabolic or elliptic (according as $\mathcal{Q}$ is hyperbolic, parabolic or elliptic) if the following hold: each member of $\mathcal{P}$ meets $H_\infty$ in a distinct generator of $\mathcal{Q}$ disjoint from $Π$; elements of $\mathcal{P}$ have at most one point in common; if $S, T \in \mathcal{P}$, $|S \cap T| = 1$, then $\langle S, T \rangle \cap \mathcal{Q}$ is a hyperbolic quadric of $\mathcal{Q}$. In this note it is shown that a hyperbolic, parabolic or elliptic affine spread of $\mathrm{PG}(n, q)$ is equivalent to a spread of $\mathcal{Q}^+(n+1, q)$, $\mathcal{Q}(n+1, q)$ or $\mathcal{Q}^-(n+1, q)$, respectively.

math.CO↗
arXiv2023

On 4-general sets in finite projective spaces

A $4$-general set in ${\rm PG}(n,q)$ is a set of points of ${\rm PG}(n,q)$ spanning the whole ${\rm PG}(n,q)$ and such that no four of them are on a plane. Such a pointset is said to be complete if it is not contained in a larger $4$-general set of ${\rm PG}(n, q)$. In this paper upper and lower bounds for the size of the largest and the smallest complete $4$-general set in ${\rm PG}(n,q)$, respectively, are investigated. Complete $4$-general sets in ${\rm PG}(n,q)$, $q \in \{3,4\}$, whose size is close to the theoretical upper bound are provided. Further results are also presented, including a description of the complete $4$-general sets in projective spaces of small dimension over small fields and the construction of a transitive $4$-general set of size $3(q + 1)$ in ${\rm PG}(5, q)$, $q \equiv 1 \pmod{3}$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2023

On the geometry of the Hermitian Veronese curve and its quasi-Hermitian surfaces

The complete classification of the orbits on subspaces under the action of the projective stabiliser of (classical) algebraic varieties is a challenging task, and few classifications are complete. We focus on a particular action of $\PGL(2,q^2)$ (and $\PSL(2,q^2)$) arising from the Hermitian Veronese curve in $\PG(3, q^2)$, a maximal rational curve embedded on a smooth Hermitian surface with some fascinating properties. The study of its orbits leads to a new construction of quasi-Hermitian surfaces: sets of points with the same combinatorial and geometric properties as a non-degenerate Hermitian surface.

math.CO↗
arXiv2022

The Geometry of $(t\mod{q})$-arcs

In this paper, we give a geometric construction of the three strong non-lifted $(3\mod{5})$-arcs in $\operatorname{PG}(3,5)$ of respective sizes 128, 143, and 168, and construct an infinite family of non-lifted, strong $(t\mod{q})$-arcs in $\operatorname{PG}(r,q)$ with $t=(q+1)/2$ for all $r\ge3$ and all odd prime powers $q$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2022

On the geometry of a $(q + 1)$-arc of $\mathrm{PG}(3, q)$, q even

In $\mathrm{PG}(3, q)$, $q = 2^n$, $n \ge 3$, let ${\cal A} = \{(1,t,t^{2^h},t^{2^h+1}) \mid t \in \mathbb{F}_q\} \cup \{(0,0,0,1)\}$, with $\mathrm{gcd}(n,h) = 1$, be a $(q+1)$-arc and let $G_h \simeq \mathrm{PGL}(2, q)$ be the stabilizer of $\cal A$ in $\mathrm{PGL}(4, q)$. The $G_h$-orbits on points, lines and planes of $\mathrm{PG}(3, q)$, together with the point-plane incidence matrix with respect to the $G_h$-orbits on points and planes of $\mathrm{PG}(3, q)$ are determined. The point-line incidence matrix with respect to the $G_1$-orbits on points and lines of $\mathrm{PG}(3, q)$ is also considered. In particular, for a line $\ell$ belonging to a given line $G_1$-orbits, say $\cal L$, the point $G_1$-orbit distribution of $\ell$ is either explicitly computed or it is shown to depend on the number of elements $x$ in $\mathbb{F}_q$ (or in a subset of $\mathbb{F}_q$) such that $\mathrm{Tr}_{q|2}(g(x)) = 0$, where $g$ is an $\mathbb{F}_q$-map determined by $\cal L$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2022

The $m$-ovoids of ${\cal W}(5,2)$

In this paper we are concerned with $m$-ovoids of the symplectic polar space ${\cal W}(2n+1, q)$, $q$ even. In particular we show the existence of an elliptic quadric of ${\rm PG}(2n+1, q)$ not polarizing to ${\cal W}(2n+1, q)$ forming a $\left(\frac{q^n-1}{q-1}\right)$-ovoid of ${\cal W}(2n+1, q)$. A further class of $(q+1)$-ovoids of ${\cal W}(5, q)$ is exhibited. It arises by glueing together two orbits of a subgroup of ${\rm PSp}(6, q)$ isomorphic to ${\rm PSL}(2, q^2)$. We also show that the obtained $m$-ovoids do not fall in any of the examples known so far in the literature. Moreover, a computer classification of the $m$-ovoids of ${\cal W}(5, 2)$ is acquired. It turns out that ${\cal W}(5, 2)$ has $m$-ovoids if and only if $m = 3$ and that there are exactly three pairwise non-isomorphic examples. The first example comes from an elliptic quadric ${\cal Q}^-(5, 2)$ polarizing to ${\cal W}(5, 2)$, whereas the other two are the $3$-ovoids previously mentioned.

math.CO↗
arXiv2022

On large partial ovoids of symplectic and Hermitian polar spaces

In this paper we provide constructive lower bounds on the sizes of the largest partial ovoids of the symplectic polar spaces ${\cal W}(3, q)$, $q$ odd square, $q \not\equiv 0 \pmod{3}$, ${\cal W}(5, q)$ and of the Hermitian polar spaces ${\cal H}(4, q^2)$, $q$ even or $q$ odd square, $q \not\equiv 0 \pmod{3}$, ${\cal H}(6, q^2)$, ${\cal H}(8, q^2)$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2021

Combining subspace codes

In the context of constant--dimension subspace codes, an important problem is to determine the largest possible size $A_q(n, d; k)$ of codes whose codewords are $k$-subspaces of $\mathbb{F}_q^n$ with minimum subspace distance $d$. Here in order to obtain improved constructions, we investigate several approaches to combine subspace codes. This allow us to present improvements on the lower bounds for constant--dimension subspace codes for many parameters, including $A_q(10, 4; 5)$, $A_q(12, 4; 4)$, $A_q(12, 6, 6)$ and $A_q(16, 4; 4)$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2021

A modular equality for $m$-ovoids of elliptic quadrics

An $m$-ovoid of a finite polar space $\mathcal{P}$ is a set $\mathcal{O}$ of points such that every maximal subspace of $\mathcal{P}$ contains exactly $m$ points of $\mathcal{O}$. In the case when $\mathcal{P}$ is an elliptic quadric $\mathcal{Q}^-(2r+1, q)$ of rank $r$ in $\mathbb{F}_q^{2r+2}$, we prove that an $m$-ovoid exists only if $m$ satisfies a certain modular equality, which depends on $q$ and $r$. This condition rules out many of the possible values of $m$. Previously, only a lower bound on $m$ was known, which we slightly improve as a byproduct of our method. We also obtain a characterization of the $m$-ovoids of $\mathcal{Q}^{-}(7,q)$ for $q = 2$ and $(m, q) = (4, 3)$.

math.CO↗