Conference booklet - Combinatorics in Italy
Transcript
Conference booklet - Combinatorics in Italy
Giornate di Geometria 2015 September 17–19, 2015 Caserta, Italy Template and Style ©Luca Giuzzi 2014, 2015 [email protected] Typeset in Garamond Premier Pro with LuaLATEX Giornate di Geometria Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Contents List of Participants Invited talks . . . . Contributed talks . List of Talks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 17 43 List of Participants Giornate di Geometria Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 List of Participants D A Marien Abreu Università della Basilicata (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Anneleeln De Schepper Ghent University (Belgium) e-mail: [email protected] Awss Al-Ogaidi University of Sussex (UK) e-mail: [email protected] Tai Do Duc Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) e-mail: [email protected] B Laura Bader Università di Napoli “Federico II” (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Giorgio Donati Università di Napoli “Federico II” (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Daniele Bartoli Ghent University (Belgium) e-mail: [email protected] Nicola Durante Università di Napoli “Federico II” (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Francesco Belardo Università di Napoli “Federico II” (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Marco Buratti Università di Perugia (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] G Arrigo Bonisoli Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Massimo Giulietti Università di Perugia (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Emanuele Brugnoli Università di Perugia (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Luca Giuzzi Università di Brescia (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] C Ilaria Cardinali Università di Siena (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] H Benjamin Cooper University of Virginia (USA) e-mail: [email protected] Hans Havlicek Vienna University of Technology (Austria) e-mail: [email protected] Simone Costa Università “Roma tre” (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Bence Csajbók Università di Padova (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] 3 Giornate di Geometria Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 List of Participants K N Fatma Karaoglu University of Sussex (UK) e-mail: [email protected] Vito Napolitano Seconda Università di Napoli (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Ayse Karaoglu Ege University of Türkiye (Turkey) e-mail: [email protected] O Gábor Korchmáros Università della Basilicata (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Domenico Olanda Università di Napoli “Federico II” (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Mariusz Kwiatkowski University of Warmia and Mazury (Poland) e-mail: [email protected] Ferruh Özbudak Middle East Technical University (Turkey) e-mail: [email protected] L P Domenico Labbate Università della Basilicata (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Fernanda Pambianco Università di Perugia (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Michel Lavrauw Università di Padova (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Mark Pankov University of Warmia and Mazury (Poland) e-mail: [email protected] Enzo Li Marzi Università di Messina (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Francesco Pavese Università della Basilicata (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Guglielmo Lunardon Università di Napoli “Federico II” (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Valentina Pepe Università di Roma “La Sapienza” (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] M Giuseppe Marino Seconda Università di Napoli (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Sivlia Pianta Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Francesco Mazzocca Seconda Università di Napoli (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Olga Polverino Seconda Università di Napoli (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Giuseppe Mazzuoccolo Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Alexander Pott University of Madgeburg (Germany) e-mail: [email protected] Francesca Merola Università Roma tre (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] 4 Giornate di Geometria Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 List of Participants R Morgan Rodgers Università di Padova (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] S Alessandro Siciliano Università della Basilicata (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Angelo Sonnino Università della Basilicata (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Pietro Speziali Università della Basilicata (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Péter Sziklai Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary) e-mail: [email protected] T Hiroaki Taniguchi Nat. Inst. of Technology, Kagawa College ( Japan) e-mail: [email protected] Tommaso Traetta Ryerson University (Canada) e-mail: [email protected] Rocco Trombetti Università di Napoli “Federico II” (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] V Hendrik Van Maldeghem Ghent University (Belgium) e-mail: [email protected] Z Corrado Zanella Università di Padova (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] Giovanni Zini Università di Firenze (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] 5 Invited talks Giornate di Geometria Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Main speakers Marco Buratti (Some results and open problems on cycle decompositions) . . Ferruh Özbudak (Classification of Function Fields with Class Number Three) Alexander Pott (Graphs and Difference Sets) . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Sziklai (Directions and related topics) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hendrik Van Maldeghem (Domestic automorphisms of buildings) . . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 12 13 14 15 Giornate di Geometria Marco Buratti Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Some results and open problems on cycle decompositions Marco Buratti University of Perugia Abstract A cycle decomposition of a simple graph Γ is a set of subcycles of Γ whose edges partition the edge-set of Γ. In this talk I will survey some results on this topic. Also, I will try to show how algebra might be useful to attack some open problems on the same topic. Keywords: Graph; Cycle Decomposition; Group Action 11 Giornate di Geometria Ferruh Özbudak Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Classification of Function Fields with Class Number Three Ferruh Özbudak Middle East Technical University ( Joint work with Mehpare Bilhan and Dilek Buyruk) Abstract The classification of the algebraic function fields with class number one and two was completed before. In this study, we give the full list of all algebraic function fields over a finite field with class number three up to isomorphism. This list consists of explicit equations of algebraic function fields which are mutually non-isomorphic over the full constant field. Keywords: Class number, function field, L-polynomial. 12 Giornate di Geometria Alexander Pott Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Graphs and Difference Sets Alexander Pott Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg Abstract The most famous difference sets are the Singer difference sets which describe Desarguesian projective planes. There are slight variations (sometimes called generalized difference sets) which again describe projective planes. In my talk, I will discuss some applications how these difference sets can be used to construct also other interesting combinatorial objects like • Costas arrays (joint work with Amela Muratović-Ribić, David Thomson and Qiang Wang). • Strongly regular graphs (joint work with Tan Yin and Tao Feng). • Construction of some extremal Abelian Cayley graphs (joint work with Yue Zhou). Keywords: difference set, Cayley graph, Costas array, Moore bound, strongly regular graph 13 Giornate di Geometria Peter Sziklai Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Directions and related topics Peter Sziklai Eotvos L. University, Budapest Abstract Direction problems have played an important role in the research on finite (Galois) geometry for at least fourty years. They are interesting enough themselves, and they have many applications and connections to other fields. The definition is quite innocent: let U be a point set in the n-dimensional affine space AG(n, q) over the finite field GF(q) of q elements. We say a direction d (i.e. a point in the hyperplane at infinity H∞ ) is determined by U if there is a line with the point d at infinity, containing at least two points of U . The set of determined directions is usually denoted by D. A typical direction problem puts some restriction on U and asks about the properties of D, or vice versa, under some condition on D, asks about the structure of U . E.g. Rédei and Megyesi proved that in AG(2, p), p prime, if |U | = p, then U determines either 1 or at least p+3 2 directions. Another example is a result of Bruen and Levinger, classifying all affine point sets U ⊂ AG(2, q) of size q, which determine directions corresponding to slopes being square elements of GF(q). By the pigeon hole principle it is clear that if |U | > q n−1 then U determines every direction. Most of the classical results consider the “extremal case”, i.e. affine pointsets of size q n−1 . In my talk I will give a summary of the history and of the most important results, including some old and new results about Rédei-polynomials, as their theory provided the key methods in this topic. I will also show some of the related non-geometrical problems from group theory, graph theory, etc. After this survey-like part we will deal with several extensions and generalizations. We get interesting cases when changing the size of U , or if we alter the definition of determining a direction. Then we embed the topic into a broader context and we define a large class of problems, which resemble to the direction questions. Some of the results are joint work with Jan De Beule, Szabolcs Fancsali and Marcella Takáts. Keywords: affine space, finite field, direction 14 Giornate di Geometria Hendrik Van Maldeghem Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Domestic automorphisms of buildings Hendrik Van Maldeghem Ghent University ( Joint work with James Parkinson — University of Sydney) Abstract A domestic automorphism of a building is an automorphism that does not map any chamber to an opposite chamber. Such automorphisms seem the be rare, especially for buildings with large panels. We explain the motivation, give an overview of known results and present some new ones. The emphasis is on finite buildings, more exactly finite generalized polygons, finite projective spaces and finite polar spaces. Keywords: Buildings, Opposition, Generalized polygons, Projective spaces, Polar spaces 15 Contributed talks Giornate di Geometria Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 List of contributors Daniele Bartoli (Algebraic curves and Random Network Codes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Francesco Belardo (Balance, frustration and least Laplacian eigenvalue of signed graphs) . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Emanuele Brugnoli (Enumerating the Walecki-type Hamiltonian cycle systems) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Ilaria Cardinali (Orthogonal and Symplectic Grassmann codes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Simone Costa (New i-perfect cycle decompositions via i-perfect SDFs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Bence Csajbók (On scattered linear sets of pseudoregulus type in PG(1, q t )) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Anneleen De Schepper (A new dimension in the Magic Square) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Tai Do Duc (Unique Differences in Symmetric Subsets of Fp ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Hans Havlicek (Harmonicity preservers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Mariusz Kwiatkowski (On the distance between linear codes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Giuseppe Mazzuoccolo (On graphs with circular flow number 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Francesca Merola (Cyclic Hamiltonian cycle systems for the complete multipartite graph) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Mark Pankov (On embeddings of Grassmann graphs in polar Grassmann graphs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Francesco Pavese (Intriguing sets of quadrics in PG(5, q)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Valentina Pepe (Symplectic semifield spreads of PG(5, q 2 )) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Morgan Rodgers (Cameron–Liebler type sets and Completely regular codes in Grassmann graphs) . . . . . . . . . 36 Alessandro Siciliano (On Delsarte’s linear MRD-codes and their automorphism group) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Pietro Speziali (Hermitian Codes with automorphism group isomorphic to P GL(2, q) with q odd) . . . . . . . . 38 Hiroaki Taniguchi (On some bilinear dual hyperovals) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Tommaso Traetta (Resolvability vs. absence of parallel classes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Giovanni Zini (Maximal curves which are not Galois-subcovers of the Hermitian curve) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 19 Giornate di Geometria Daniele Bartoli Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Algebraic curves and Random Network Codes Daniele Bartoli Ghent University ( Joint work with Matteo Bonini and Massimo Giulietti — University of Perugia) Abstract In their seminal paper [1], Koetter and Kschischang introduced a metric on the set of vector spaces and showed that if the dimension of the intersections of the vector spaces is large enough then a minimal distance decoder for this metric achieves correct decoding. In particular, given an r-dimensional vector space V over Fq , the set S(V ) of all subspaces of V forms a metric space with respect to the subspace distance defined by d(U, U 0 ) = dim(U + U 0 ) − dim(U ∩ U 0 ). In this context the main problem asks for the determination of the larger size of codes in the space (S(V ), d) with given minimum distance. Recently, Hansen [2] presented a construction of random network codes based on Riemann-Roch spaces associated to algebraic curves, describing the parameters of these codes. We generalize this construction and we obtain new infinite families of random network codes from algebraic curves. [1] R. Koetter, F.R. Kschischang. Coding for errors and erasures in random network coding. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory 54(8), (2008) 3579–3591. [2] J.P. Hansen. Riemann-Roch spaces and linear network codes, http://arxiv.org/abs/1503.02386. Keywords: Random Network Codes, Riemann-Roch spaces 21 Giornate di Geometria Francesco Belardo Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Balance, frustration and least Laplacian eigenvalue of signed graphs Francesco Belardo University of Naples Federico II Abstract A signed graph Γ is a pair (G, σ), where G = (V (G), E(G)) is a simple graph and σ : E(G) → {+1, −1} is a mapping on the edges of G called signature. A cycle in Γ is said to be positive if and only if the product of its edge signs is positive. A signed graph Γ is balanced if all of its cycles are positive. If Γ is not balanced, then a suitable deletion of some vertices or edges leads to a balanced graph. Let ν(Γ) (resp. (Γ)) be the minimum number of vertices (resp. edges) to be deleted such that the obtained signed graph is balanced. The values ν(Γ) and (Γ) are called the frustration number and frustration index, respectively. It is well-known that if Γ is a connected balanced graph then the least Laplacian eigenvalue λn (Γ) equals zero. Some recent papers have recognized that λn is a good measure for the frustration of a connected signed graph, and in particular it is λn (Γ) ≤ ν(Γ) ≤ (Γ). Hence, we refer to λn (Γ) as the algebraic frustration of Γ. In this talk we discuss the limit case λn (Γ) = ν(Γ). 22 Giornate di Geometria Emanuele Brugnoli Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Enumerating the Walecki-type Hamiltonian cycle systems Emanuele Brugnoli University of Perugia Abstract Let Kv be the complete graph on v vertices. A Hamiltonian cycle system of odd order v (briefly HCS(v)) is a set of Hamiltonian cycles of Kv whose edges partition the edge-set of Kv . The earliest example of a HCS(2n + 1) is attributed to Walecki; its vertex-set is V2n+1 := Z2n ∪ {∞} and it consists of all cycles belonging to the orbit of the starter cycle (∞, 0, 1, −1, 2, −2, . . . , i, −i, . . . , n − 1, −(n − 1), n) under the natural action of Z2n on V2n+1 . By means of a slight modification of the HCS(4n + 1) of Walecki, we obtain 2n pairwise distinct HCS(4n + 1) and we enumerate them up to isomorphism. Keywords: Hamiltonian cycle system; permutation group 23 Giornate di Geometria Ilaria Cardinali Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Orthogonal and Symplectic Grassmann codes Ilaria Cardinali University of Siena ( Joint work with Luca Giuzzi — University of Brescia) Abstract Polar Grassmann codes have been introduced in [1] as projective codes induced by projective systems associated with polar Grassmannians. In this talk we shall recall the basic notions motivating the introduction of polar Grassmann codes and report on some recent results on polar Grassmann codes of either orthogonal or symplectic type. Keywords: Polar Grassmannians, Projective Codes. References [1] I. Cardinali and L. Giuzzi, Codes and caps from orthogonal Grassmannians, Finite Fields Appl. 24 (2013), 148-169. [2] I. Cardinali, L. Giuzzi and A. Pasini, Line Polar Grassmann Codes of Orthogonal Type, arxiv:1407.6149. [3] I. Cardinali and L. Giuzzi, Enumerative Coding for Line Polar Grassmannians, arxiv:1412.5466. [4] I. Cardinali and L. Giuzzi, Minimum distance of Symplectic Grassmann codes, arxiv:1503.05456. 24 Giornate di Geometria Simone Costa Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 New i-perfect cycle decompositions via i-perfect SDFs Simone Costa Università degli Studi Roma Tre ( Joint work with Marco Buratti and Xiaomiao Wang) Abstract A k-cycle decomposition of a graph G is a set C of k-cycles with vertices in V (G) whose edges partition E(G). Such a decomposition is said to be i-perfect, with i an integer between 1 and bk/2c, if for any pair of distinct vertices x, y of V (G) there is exactly one cycle of C where x and y occur at distance i (see [6]). In this talk I will present a technique to construct regular i-perfect k-cycle decompositions of the m-partite graph Km×k that generalizes the constructions of [3] and [1] and makes use of the new concept, inspired by [2], of i-perfect (Zk , Ck , µ) strong difference family. This method is particularly effective in the case i ∈ {3, 5, 7, 9}; for these values of i we proved that there exists an i-perfect k-cycle decomposition of the graph Km×k for k odd whenever we have gcd(6, m) = 1. By using the result on 3-perfect Hamiltonian decompositions of a complete graph obtained in [4] and [5] we also obtain the existence of 3-perfect k-cycle decompositions of the complete graph Kmk for any pair of integers m, k such that gcd(6, m) = 1 and k ≥ 7 is odd. References [1] M. Buratti, S. Costa, X. Wang, New i-perfect cycle decompositions via graph colorings, preprint. [2] M. Buratti, A. Pasotti, On perfect Γ-decompositions of the complete graph, J Combin Des. 17, Issue 2, (2009) 197-209. [3] M. Buratti, F. Rania and F. Zuanni, Some constructions for cyclic perfect cycle system, Discrete Math. 299 (2005), 33-48. [4] M. Buratti, G. Rinaldi and T. Traetta, Some results on 1-rotational Hamiltonian cycle systems, J Combin Des. 22, Issue 6, (2014), 231-251. [5] M. Kobayashi, B. McKay, N. Mutoh, G. Nakamura and C. Nara, 3-perfect Hamiltonian decomposition of the complete graph, Australian J Combin. 56 (2013), 219-224. [6] C.C. Lindner and C.A. Rodger, 2-perfect m-cycle systems, Discrete Math. 104 (1992), 83-90. 25 Giornate di Geometria Bence Csajbók Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 On scattered linear sets of pseudoregulus type in PG(1, q t) Bence Csajbók University of Padova ( Joint work with Corrado Zanella — University of Padua) Abstract Linear sets of a finite projective space generalize the concept of a subgeometry. In the recent years they have been used to construct or characterize various objects in finite geometry. A point set L of PGqt (Fnqt ) ∼ = PG(n − 1, q t ) is n Fq -linear of rank k, if L = {huiqt : u ∈ U }, for some k-dimensional Fq -subspace U of Fqt . Lunardon and Polverino characterized linear sets as projections of canonical subgeometries. In this talk we give a geometric characterization of the projecting configurations (Γ, Σ), where Γ is a (t − 3)-space of Σ∗ ∼ = PG(t − 1, q t ) and Σ ∼ = PG(t − 1, q) is a ∗ subgeometry of Σ disjoint from Γ, such that the projection of Σ from Γ to the line Λ ∼ = PG(1, q t ) ⊂ Σ∗ \ Γ, that is L := p Γ, Λ (Σ), is a maximum scattered linear set of pseudoregulus type. This family of linear sets has been defined recently by Lunardon, Marino, Polverino and Trombetti; and also studied by Donati and Durante. We count the number of q-order sublines contained in L and we show that the preimage p−1 Γ, Λ (r) ∩ Σ of any q-order subline r ⊆ L is a normal rational curve. This extends a result of Lavrauw and Van de Voorde who proved the same in PG(1, q 3 ). In the proof we use some properties of a degree t hypersurface of PG(2t − 1, q) studied by Lavrauw, Sheekey and Zanella. Our proof also involves the study of point sets `d := {hz d iq : z ∈ Fqt , hziq ∈ `}, where ` is a line of PGq (Fqt ) and d is an integer of a special form. It is well-known that `−1 is a rational normal curve. We generalize this result. One of the most natural questions about linear sets is their equivalence. Let L be a linear set of pseudoregulus type in Λ = PG(1, q t ), t = 5 or t > 6. We show that there exist projective configurations (Γ, Σ) and (Γ0 , Σ0 ) such that L = p Γ, Λ (Σ) = p Γ0 , Λ (Σ0 ) and there is no collineation mapping Γ to Γ0 and Σ to Σ0 . Keywords: Linear set, normal rational curve 26 Giornate di Geometria Anneleen De Schepper Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 A new dimension in the Magic Square Anneleen De Schepper Ghent University ( Joint work with Hendrik Van Maldeghem — University of Ghent) Abstract Veronesean varieties are connected with the geometries of the second row of the Freudenthal-Tits Magic Square. Traditionally, there is a split and a nonsplit version of this square, and for the first column, these two versions coincide, yielding the quadratic Veronesean. We discuss a possibility to introduce “degenerate” versions of the Magic Square that connect the split with the nonsplit version. This would turn the square into a triangular prism. In particular, the second column admits 3 different versions. We will emphasize the geometries behind this extension of the Magic Square. Keywords: Veronesean varieties, projective remoteness planes 27 Giornate di Geometria Tai Do Duc Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Unique Differences in Symmetric Subsets of Fp Tai Do Duc Division of Mathematical Sciences Nanyang Technological University Republic of Singapore [email protected] Abstract Let p be a prime and let A be a subset of Fp with A = −A and |A \ {0}| ≤ 2 log3 (p). Then there is an element of Fp which has a unique representation as a difference of two elements of A. This result can be used to show that under certain conditions, Weil numbers in Z[ζm ] are necessarily contained in proper subfileds Q[ζm ]. Keywords: Weil numbers; Subfields. References [1] J. Browkin, B. Divis, and A. Schinzel: Addition of sequences in general fields, Monatsh. Math. 82 (1976), 261–268. [2] E. Croot, T. Schoen: On sumsets and spectral gaps. Acta Arith. 136 (2009), 47–55. [3] J. W. S. Cassels: On a conjecture of R. M. Robinson about sums of roots of unity. J. Reine Angew. Math. 238 (1969), 112–131. [4] K. Ireland, M. Rosen: A Classical Introduction to Modern Number Theory. Graduate Texts in Mathematics 84, Springer 1990. [5] K. H. Leung, B. Schmidt: Unique Sums and Differences in Finite Abelian Groups. Submitted. [6] V. F. Lev: The rectifiability threshold in abelian groups. Combinatorica 28 (2008), 491–497. [7] J. H. Loxton: On two problems of E. M. Robinson about sums of roots of unity. Acta Arith. 26 (1974), 159–174. [8] Z. Nedev: An algorithm for finding a nearly minimal balanced set in Fp . Math. Comp. 268 (2009), 2259–2267. [9] Z. Nedev: Lower bound for balanced sets. Theoret. Comput. Sci. 460 (2012), 89–93. [10] Z. Nedev, A. Quas: Balanced sets and the vector game. Int. J. Number Theory 4 (2008), 339–347. [11] C. Norman: Finitely Generated Abelian Groups and Similarity of Matrices over a Field. Springer 2012. [12] B. Schmidt: Cyclotomic integers and finite geometry. J. Am. Math. Soc. 12 (1999), 929–952. [13] E. G. Straus: Differences of residues (mod p). J. Number Th. 8 (1976), 40–42. 28 Giornate di Geometria Hans Havlicek Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Harmonicity preservers Hans Havlicek Institute of Discrete Mathematics and Geometry Vienna University of Technology Wiedner Hauptstraße 8–10, 1040 Wien, Austria, [email protected] Abstract In the first edition of the seminal book Geometrie der Lage by Karl Georg Christian von Staudt projectivities are defined by the invariance of harmonic quadruples as follows [4, p. 49]: ”Zwei einförmige Grundgebilde heissen zu einander projektivisch (∧), wenn sie so auf einander bezogen sind, dass jedem harmonischen Gebilde in dem einen ein harmonisches Gebilde im andern entspricht.” In this talk we are concerned with projective lines over rings R and R0 (associative with a unit element); see, among others, [1] or [3]. Our aim is the algebraic description of their harmonicity preservers, i. e., mappings which take all harmonic quadruples of the projective line P(R) to harmonic quadruples of the projective line P(R0 ). There are numerous contributions to this topic, and results were obtained for certain classes of rings, first of all for commutative and non-commutative fields of characteristic different from two. On the other hand, as follows from various examples, a uniform algebraic description of harmonicity preservers is out of reach in the general case, even if the underlying rings are commutative. A brief historical overview together with a comprehensive list of references can be found in [2]. Recall that a mapping α : R → R0 is called a Jordan homomorphism if it satisfies (x + y)α = xα + y α , 1α = 1 0 , (xyx)α = xα y α xα for all x, y ∈ R. (Homomorphisms and antihomomorphisms of rings are well known examples of Jordan homomorphisms.) Suppose now that the ring R contains “sufficiently many units”, in particular the ring element 1 + 1 has to be a unit. We consider the distant graph on the projective line P(R). Its vertices are the points of P(R). Two points of P(R) form an edge if, and only if, they have representatives that form a basis of R2 . Let C ⊂ P(R) denote any connected component of the distant graph. Under these assumption our main result is as follows: Theorem [2, Thm. 1]: If µ : P(R) → P(R0 ) is a harmonicity preserver then the restriction of µ to C can be described in terms of a Jordan homomorphism R → R0 . References [1] A. Blunck and A. Herzer. Kettengeometrien – Eine Einführung. Shaker Verlag, Aachen, 2005. [2] H. Havlicek. Von Staudt’s theorem revisited. Aequationes Math. 89 (2015), 459–472. DOI 10.1007/s00010013-0218-6. [3] A. Herzer. Chain geometries. In F. Buekenhout, editor, Handbook of Incidence Geometry, pages 781–842. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1995. [4] K. G. Chr. von Staudt. Geometrie der Lage. Bauer und Raspe ( Julius Merz), Nürnberg, 1847. 29 Giornate di Geometria Mariusz Kwiatkowski Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 On the distance between linear codes Mariusz Kwiatkowski University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland ( Joint work with Mark Pankov — University of Warmia and Mazury) Abstract Let V be an n-dimensional vector space over the finite field consisting of q elements and let Γk (V ) be the Grassmann graph formed by k-dimensional subspaces of V , 1 < k < n − 1. Denote by Γ(n, k)q the restriction of Γk (V ) to the set of all non-degenerate linear [n, k]q codes. We show that for any two codes the distance in Γ(n, k)q coincides with the distance in Γk (V ) only in the case when n < (q + 1)2 + k − 2, i.e. if n is sufficiently large then for some pairs of codes the distances in the graphs Γk (V ) and Γ(n, k)q are distinct. We describe one class of such pairs. Keywords: Grassmannian, Nondegenerate linear code, Distance graph 30 Giornate di Geometria Giuseppe Mazzuoccolo Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 On graphs with circular flow number 5 Giuseppe Mazzuoccolo University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. ( Joint work with Louis Esperet and Michael Tarsi.) Abstract For some time the Petersen graph has been the only known Snark with circular flow number 5 (or more, as long as the assertion of Tutte’s 5-flow Conjecture is in doubt). Although infinitely many such snarks were presented in 2006 by E. Máčajová and A. Raspaud, the variety of known methods to construct them and the structure of the obtained graphs were still rather limited. After a brief introduction to the problem, we present an analysis of sets of flow values, which can be transferred through flow networks with the flow on each edge restricted to the open interval (1, 4) modulo 5. All these sets are symmetric unions of open integer intervals in the ring R/5Z. We use the results to design an arsenal of methods for constructing snarks S with circular flow number at least 5. As one indication to the diversity and density of the obtained family of graphs, we show that it is sufficiently rich so that the corresponding recognition problem is NP-complete. Finally, we discuss the possible relations with other well-known conjectures about snarks. Keywords: Snarks, Circular flows, Nowhere-zero flows, NP-Completeness. 31 Giornate di Geometria Francesca Merola Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Cyclic Hamiltonian cycle systems for the complete multipartite graph Francesca Merola Università Roma Tre, Italy ( Joint work with Anita Pasotti, Marco A. Pellegrini and Michael W. Schroeder) Abstract A Hamiltonian cycle system (HCS) for a graph or multigraph Γ is a set B of Hamiltonian cycles of Γ whose edges partition the edge set of Γ. A cycle system is regular if there is an automorphism group G of the graph Γ acting sharply transitively on the vertices of Γ and permuting the cycles of B, and it is called cyclic if G is the cyclic group. The existence problem for cyclic HCS for the complete graph Kn , n odd, and for the graph K2n − I, I a 1-factor, (the so-called cocktail party graph), has been solved in [2] and [4] respectively. In the talk I will consider existence results for cyclic Hamiltonian cycle systems for the graph Km×n , the complete multipartite graph with m parts, each of size n. I will present a complete solution to the existence problems when the number of parts m is even [5], and more generally for mn even, and discuss some work in progress for the case in which both m and n are odd [6]. I will also touch on the symmetric HCS introduced by Brualdi and Schroeder [1] for the cocktail party graph and recently generalized by Schroeder to the complete multipartite graphs [7]; indeed we may note that cyclic cycle systems often turn out to possess this additional symmetry requirement [3], so that it makes sense to discuss these results in this context. References [1] R.A. Brualdi, M.W. Schroeder, Symmetric Hamilton cycle decompositions of complete graphs minus a 1-factor, J. Combin. Des. 19 (2011), 1–15. [2] M. Buratti, A. Del Fra, Cyclic Hamiltonian cycle systems of the complete graph, Discrete Math. 279 (2004), 107–119. [3] M. Buratti, F. Merola, Hamiltonian cycle systems which are both cyclic and symmetric, J. Combin. Des. 22 (2014), 367–390. [4] H. Jordon, J. Morris, Cyclic hamiltonian cycle systems of the complete graph minus a 1-factor, Discrete Math. 308 (2008), 2440–2449. [5] F. Merola, A. Pasotti, M.A. Pellegrini, Cyclic hamiltonian cycle systems of the complete multipartite graph: even number of parts, preprint. [6] F. Merola, A. Pasotti, M.A. Pellegrini, M.W. Schroeder, Cyclic hamiltonian cycle systems of the complete multipartite graph: odd number of parts, in preparation. [7] M.W. Schroeder, φ-symmetric Hamilton cycle decompositions of graphs, to appear in Discrete Math. 32 Giornate di Geometria Mark Pankov Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 On embeddings of Grassmann graphs in polar Grassmann graphs Mark Pankov University of Warmia and Mazury Abstract Our first result says that every embedding of a Grassmann graph in a polar Grassmann graph can be reduced to an embedding in a Grassmann graph or to an embedding in the collinearity graph of a polar space. As a simple consequence of this theorem, we get a statement closely connected to Blok–Coperstein result. Also, we consider 3-embeddings (embeddings preserving all distances not greater than 3) of dual polar graphs whose diameter is not less than 3 in polar Grassmann graphs formed by non-maximal singular subspaces. The second result states that every such an embedding can be reduced to an embedding in a Grassmann graph. Keywords: Grassmann graph, polar Grassmann graph, embedding 33 Giornate di Geometria Francesco Pavese Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Intriguing sets of quadrics in PG(5, q) Francesco Pavese University of Basilicata ( Joint work with A. Cossidente — University of Basilicata) Abstract Let P be a finite classical polar space of rank r ≥ 2 over a finite field of order q. We say that a set of points I of P is intriguing if ( h1 if P ∈ I ⊥ |P ∩ I| = , h2 if P 6∈ I for some constants h1 and h2 (where P ranges over the points of P). The integers h1 and h2 are called the intersection numbers of I. Here ⊥ is the polarity of P. It turns out that an intriguing set of P is either an m–ovoid or an i–tight set of P [1]. An m–ovoid O of P is a subset of points of P such that every maximal of P meets O in m points. If T is a subset of points of P, then the average number of points of T collinear with a given point is bounded above by i(q r−1 − 1)/(q − 1) + q r−1 − 1, where i is determined by the size of T . If equality occurs, T is said to be i–tight. There exist two very nice and important objects in finite geometry admitting the same automorphism group: a hemisystem of the Hermitian generalized quadrangle H(3, q 2 ), q odd [3], and a Cameron–Liebler line class in PG(3, q), q odd, of parameter (q 2 + 1)/2 [2]. They both admit the classical group G := P Ω− (4, q) stabilizing an elliptic quadric Q− (3, q) of PG(3, q) as an automorphism group. Under the Klein correspondence, they are both examples of intriguing sets of quadrics of PG(5, q). We pose the following question. There does exist a suitable chosen subgroup of G producing new hemisystems of the Hermitian generalized quadrangle H(3, q 2 ) and new Cameron–Liebler line classes of PG(3, q)? In this talk I will show that the answer is affirmative. In particular, by considering a suitable subgroup of the stabilizer of a point of Q− (3, q) in G, a new family of hemisystems of H(3, q 2 ), q ≥ 7 odd, and a new family of Cameron–Liebler line classes of PG(3, q) with parameter (q 2 + 1)/2, q ≥ 5 odd, arise. Keywords: Hermitian surface; hemisystem; Cameron–Liebler line class; strongly regular graph; partial quadrangle, intriguing sets; quadrics. References [1] J. Bamberg, S. Kelly, M. Law, T. Penttila, Tight sets and m–ovoids of finite polar spaces, J. Combin. Theory Ser. A 114 (2007), no. 7, 1293-1314. [2] A. A. Bruen, K. Drudge, The construction of Cameron–Liebler line classes in PG(3, q), Finite Fields Appl. 5 (1999), no. 1, 35-45. [3] A. Cossidente, T. Penttila, Hemisystems on the Hermitian surface, J. London Math. Soc. (2) 72 (2005), no. 3, 731-741. 34 Giornate di Geometria Valentina Pepe Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Symplectic semifield spreads of PG(5, q 2) Valentina Pepe Sapienza University of Rome ( Joint work with S.Capparelli — Sapienza University of Rome) Abstract I will present some recent results about symplectic semifield spreads of PG(5, q 2 ), whose associated semifield has center containing Fq . In particular, for even q, we have the following: Theorem[S.Capparelli,V.P.] There do not exist non-Desarguesian symplectic semifield spreads of PG(5, q 2 ), q ≥ 214 even, whose associated semifield has center containing Fq . 35 Giornate di Geometria Morgan Rodgers Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Cameron–Liebler type sets and Completely regular codes in Grassmann graphs Morgan Rodgers University of Padova ( Joint work with Leo Storme and Andries Vansweevelt) Abstract A Cameron-Liebler line class in PG(3, q) can be defined as a set L of lines whose characteristic vector lies in row(A), where A is the point-line incidence matrix of PG(3, q). These objects are connected to collineation groups of PG(n, q) having the same number of orbits on points and lines, as well as to symmetric tactical decompositions of the point-line design PG(n, q). These objects also provide examples of completely regular codes in the Grassmann graph Gq (4, 2); these are sets of vertices that induce an equitable partition in the graph, and provide generalizations of the classical concept of perfect codes. We generalize the concept of a Cameron-Liebler line class to sets of k-spaces in PG(2k + 1, q). After looking at various characterizations of these sets and explaining some of the difficulties that arise in contrast to the known results for line classes, we will give some connections to completely regular codes in Gq (2k + 2, k + 1), and prove some preliminary results concerning the existence of these objects. Keywords: Cameron–Liebler line classes, Completely regular codes, Grassmann graph 36 Giornate di Geometria Alessandro Siciliano Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 On Delsarte’s linear MRD-codes and their automorphism group Alessandro Siciliano Università degli Studi della Basilicata Abstract In the vector space Mn,m (Fq ), n ≤ m of all (n × m)-matrices over Fq , let Zt , 1 ≤ t ≤ n, denote the collection of all 1-dimensional spaces hvi, such that rank(v) ≤ t. The set Zt is actually a projective variety in the projective space PG(Mn,m (Fq )) defined by Mn,m (Fq ). Though the study of linear subspaces external to Zt has its own interest from the point of algebraic geometry over a finite field, in the last decades these subspaces became object of active research because of their applications in coding theory. In particular, q-ary codes derived from subspaces external to Zt of size q m(n−t) are called maximum linear rank distance codes. Such subspaces were firstly constructed by Delsarte [1], and later by Gabidulin [2]. Recently, Sheekey [3] examined in details the case n = m. In the talk I will present a geometric construction for the subspaces constructed by Delsarte. The automorphism group of these will also be discussed in the case m = 2n. Keywords: External flats, linear codes References [1] Ph. Delsarte, Bilinear Forms over a finite field, with applications to coding theory, J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 25 (1978), 226–241 . [2] E. Gabidulin, Theory of codes with maximum rank distance, Probl. Inf. Trasm., 1 (1985), 1–12. [3] J. Sheekey, A new family of linear maximum rank distance codes, preprint. 37 Giornate di Geometria Pietro Speziali Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Hermitian Codes with automorphism group isomorphic to P GL(2, q) with q odd Pietro Speziali University of Basilicata ( Joint work with Gábor Korchmáros — University of Basilicata) Abstract An algebraic-geometry (shortly AG) code on an algebraic curve X defined over a finite field F` arises by evaluating certain rational functions that are regular outside a given F` -rational divisor G at some set D of F` -rational places that are disjoint from the support of G. These codes, also named functional codes, may have good performance provided that X , G and D are chosen in an appropriate way. The best known such codes are the 1-point Hermitian functional codes CL (D, G) where ` = q 2 , X is the Hermitian curve H in P G(2, q 2 ), G = mP for an Fq2 -rational point of H, and D consists of all Fq2 -rational points of H other than P . Also, Hermitian two-point codes arise whenever G = m1 P1 + m2 P2 and D = H(Fq2 ) \ {P1 , P2 }. Several authors pointed out that even better parameters can be obtained for some values of m whenever P is replaced by a higher degree place P . In this talk we investigate the case where q is odd, m ≤ q 2 − 3, P = P1 + . . . + Pq + P∞ where {P1 , . . . , P∞ } is a 2-transitive point-orbit of a subgroup G ∼ = P GL(2, q) of the automorphism group P GU (3, q) of H. If H is given by its affine equation y q + y − xq+1 = 0 then P consists of all Fq -rational points of H. Using classical tools from both Algebraic and Finite Geometry, such as linear series on curves and the action of P GL(2, q) on points and lines in the projective plane P G(2, q), we completely determine the parameters of those codes for m ≤ q 2 − 12 (3q − 1). Remarkably, in several cases the Goppa designed minimum distance is beaten. Since both D and P are preserved by a subgroup G ∼ = P GL(2, q) of P GU (3, q), the inherited permutation automorphism group of CL (D, mP) has a subgroup isomorphic to P GL(2, q). Furthermore, for m < q − 2, we show that this subgroup is the whole permutation automorphism group of CL (mP, D). Keywords: hermitian curve, goppa code, automorphism 38 Giornate di Geometria Hiroaki Taniguchi Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 On some bilinear dual hyperovals Hiroaki Taniguchi National Institute of Technology, Kagawa College, Japan Abstract The concept of dimensional dual hyperoval (DHO) was introduced by Huybrechts and Pasini in [2]. If a DHO S of rank n generate the vector space U , we say that S is a DHO in U . (In this talk, we assume that n > 4, and DHOs are defined over GF (2).) It is proved [5] that 2n − 1 ≤ rank U ≤ n(n + 1)/2 + 2, and conjectured that 2n − 1 ≤ rank U ≤ n(n + 1)/2. Known DHOs in V (n(n + 1)/2, 2) are the Huybrechts DHO, the Buratti-Del Fra DHO, the Veronesean DHO and the deformation of Veronesean DHO. A DHO S := {X(e) | e ∈ V } in V ⊕ W (V, W : GF (2)-vector spaces) is said to be a bilinear DHO if there is a GF (2)-bilinear mapping B : V ⊕ V → W such that X(e) := {(x, B(x, e)) | x ∈ V } ⊂ V ⊕ W for any e ∈ V . The Huybrechts DHO and the Buratti-Del Fra DHO are bilinear DHOs, and the Veronesean DHO and the deformation of Veronesean DHO are non-bilinear DHOs. Let Si be DHOs of rank n and Ui = hSi i for i = 1, 2. We say S1 is a quotient of S2 if there is a surjective GF (2)-linear mapping (a covering map) π : U2 → U1 such that π(S2 ) = S1 . In [4], we give a new construction for the Buratti-Del Fra DHO. As a generalization of this construction, we construct DHOs Sc (l, GF (2r )) of rank n = rl + 1 in V (((n − 1)2 /r + 3(n − 1) + 2)/2, 2)) ( or V ((d2 /r + 3d + 2)/2, 2)) if we put d := n − 1 = rl), where l, r positive integers, and c ∈ GF (2r ) with the absolute trace T r(c) = 1 in [3]. In this talk, we first present an example of a bilinear quotient of the Buratti-Del Fra DHO of rank n in V (2n − 1, 2) for d := n − 1 odd, and an example of a bilinear quotient of Sc (l, GF (2r )) of rank n in V (2n − 1, 2) for d := n − 1 = rl, l odd. Next, using the methods of [1], [6] and [3], we show that the Huybrechts DHO of rank n has no bilinear quotient in V (2n − 1, 2). Using this result, for any quadratic APN function f on GF (2n ), we show that the set {f (x + t) + f (x) + f (t) + f (0) | x, t ∈ GF (2n )} = GF (2n ). (Recall that “the GF (2)-vector space h{f (x + t) + f (x) + f (t) + f (0) | x, t ∈ GF (2n )}i = GF (2n )” is proved by Yoshiara [6] in 2009.) r Next (if there remains some time), we talk about We show that Sc (l, GF (2r )) is simply connected P Sc (l, GF (2 )). 1 r r/s iff GF (2 ) = GF (2)(c), which gives us 2r s|r,s:odd µ(s)2 non-isomorphic examples of simply connected dual hyperovals (for fixed l and r), where µ is the möbius function. And show that Sc (l, GF (2r )) is a quotient of 0 0 0 0 0 Sc (l , GF (2r )) if lr = l r and r is a divisor of r. We also determine the automorphism group of Sc (l, GF (2r )), 0 0 0 0 0 and show that Aut(Sc (l, GF (2r ))) is a subgroup of Aut(Sc (l , GF (2r ))) if lr = l r and r |r. Keywords: dual hyperoval, quadratic APN function References [1] C. Carlet, P. Charpin and V. Zinoviev, Codes, Bent functions and Permutations Suitable For DES-like Cryptsystems, Designs, Codes and Cryptgraphy 15 (1998), 125–156. [2] C. Huybrechts and A. Pasini, Flag-transitive extensions of dual affine spaces, Contribution to Algebra and Geometry, 40 (1999), 503–532. [3] H. Taniguchi, New dimensional dual hyperovals, which are not quotients of the classical dual hyperovals, Discrete Mathematics, 337 (2014), 65–75. [4] H. Taniguchi and S. Yoshiara, A new construction of the d-dimensional Buratti-Del Fra dual hyperoval, European Journal of Combinatorics, 33 (2012), 1030–1042. [5] S. Yoshiara, Ambient spaces of dimensional dual arcs, Journal of Algebraic Combinatorics, 19 (2004), 5–23. [6] S. Yoshiara, Dimensional dual hyperovals associated with quadratic APN functions, Innovations in Incidence Geometry. 8 (2009). 39 Giornate di Geometria Tommaso Traetta Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Resolvability vs. absence of parallel classes Tommaso Traetta Department of Mathematics, Ryerson University Abstract A set of cycles of a simple graph Γ whose vertices partition the vertex-set of Γ is called a parallel class. A set of cycles whose edges partition the edge-set of Γ is a cycle decomposition of Γ. Such a decomposition is resolvable if the cycle-set can be partitioned into parallel classes. The Oberwolfach Problem and the Hamilton-Waterloo Problem are two well-known open problems on the existence of resolvable cycle decompositions. Both have been the subject of an extensive research activity over the last few years [1,2,4,5,6,7,8]. A problem opposite to the resolvability concerns the construction of cycle decompositions, with a given structure, free from parallel classes. This problem is still open, for example, for Steiner triple systems [3]. In this talk I will present some recent results on cycle decompositions which are either resolvable or free from parallel classes. References [1] A. Bonisoli, M. Buratti, G. Mazzuoccolo: “Doubly transitive 2-factorizations”, J. Combin. Des. 15 (2007), 120–132. [2] D. Bryant, P. Danziger: “On bipartite 2−factorizations of Kn − I and the Oberwolfach problem”, J. Graph Theory 68 (2011), 22–37. [3] D. Bryant, D. Horsley: “Steiner triple systems without parallel classes”, arXiv:1407.5766. [4] D. Bryant, V. Scharaschkin: “Complete solutions to the Oberwolfach problem for an infinite set of orders”, J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 99 (2009), 904–918. [5] M. Buratti, S. Capparelli, A. Del Fra: “Cyclic Hamiltonian cycle systems of the λ-fold complete and cocktail party graphs”, European J. Combin. 31 (2010), 1484–1496. [6] M. Buratti, G. Rinaldi: “1-rotational k-factorizations of the complete graph and new solutions to the Oberwolfach problem”, J. Combin. Des. 16 (2008), 87–100. [7] T. Traetta: “Some new results on 1-rotational 2-factorizations of the complete graph”, J. Combin. Des. 18 (2010), 237–247. [8] T. Traetta: “A complete solution to the two-table Oberwolfach problems”, J. Combin. Theory Ser. A 120 (2013), 984–997. 40 Giornate di Geometria Giovanni Zini Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 Maximal curves which are not Galois-subcovers of the Hermitian curve Giovanni Zini Universitá di Firenze ( Joint work with Massimo Giulietti, Maria Montanucci, and Luciane Quoos) Abstract For every q = n3 with n a prime power, the so-called GK-curve 2 2 Z n −n+1 = Y n − Y X : X n + X = Y n+1 is an Fq2 -maximal curve, that is a curve of genus g attaining the Hasse-Weil upper bound q 2 + 1 + 2gq on the number of Fq2 -rational places; for n > 2, X is not Fq2 -covered by the Hermitian curve Hq : X q + X = Y q+1 maximal over Fq2 . The problem of giving explicit equations for maximal curves is relevant for applications to Coding Theory. In the first part we compute explicit equations for some families of maximal curves that are Galois-covered by the GK-curve. We also determine the genera of the curves; some of them are new values in the spectrum of genera of Fq2 -maximal curves. We provide some further examples of Fq2 -maximal curves that cannot be covered by Hq , as well as infinite families of Fq2 -maximal curves not Galois-covered by Hq . In the second part we deal with the Galois-covering problem for two other important maximal curves: the ÁbdonBezerra-Quoos curve 2 2 A : X q − X = Y q −q+1 , which is Fq2 -maximal for every prime power q, and the generalized GK-curve ( n` +1 2 Z n+1 = Y n − Y , G: X n + X = Y n+1 which is Fn6 -maximal. We solve the open cases by showing that A is not Galois-covered by Hq for q > 3, and G is not Galois-covered by H2` for n = 2, ` ≥ 5. To this end we use group-theoretical arguments concerning the unitary groups. The first part is a joint work with Massimo Giulietti and Luciane Quoos, the second part is a joint work with Massimo Giulietti and Maria Montanucci. Keywords: Maximal curve, Galois-covering 41 List of Talks Giornate di Geometria Caserta, Italy Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, S.U.N. September 17–19, 2015 List of talks A new dimension in the Magic Square, 27 Algebraic curves and Random Network Codes, 21 Balance, frustration and least Laplacian eigenvalue of signed graphs, 22 Cameron–Liebler type sets and Completely regular codes in Grassmann graphs, 36 Classification of Function Fields with Class Number Three, 12 Cyclic Hamiltonian cycle systems for the complete multipartite graph, 32 Directions and related topics, 14 Domestic automorphisms of buildings, 15 Enumerating the Walecki-type Hamiltonian cycle systems, 23 Graphs and Difference Sets, 13 Harmonicity preservers, 29 Hermitian Codes with automorphism group isomorphic to P GL(2, q) with q odd, 38 Intriguing sets of quadrics in PG(5, q), 34 Maximal curves which are not Galois-subcovers of the Hermitian curve, 41 New i-perfect cycle decompositions via i-perfect SDFs, 25 On Delsarte’s linear MRD-codes and their automorphism group, 37 On embeddings of Grassmann graphs in polar Grassmann graphs, 33 On graphs with circular flow number 5, 31 On scattered linear sets of pseudoregulus type in PG(1, q t ), 26 On some bilinear dual hyperovals, 39 On the distance between linear codes, 30 Orthogonal and Symplectic Grassmann codes, 24 Resolvability vs. absence of parallel classes, 40 Some results and open problems on cycle decompositions, 11 Symplectic semifield spreads of PG(5, q 2 ), 35 Unique Differences in Symmetric Subsets of Fp , 28 45