Abstract
We study finite groups G having a subgroup H and \(D \subset G {\setminus } H\) such that (i) the multiset \(\{ xy^{-1}:x,y \in D\}\) has every element that is not in H occur the same number of times (such a D is called a relative difference set); (ii) \(G=D\cup D^{(-1)} \cup H\); (iii) \(D \cap D^{(-1)} =\emptyset \). We show that \(|H|=2\), that H is central and that G is a group with a single involution. We also show that G cannot be abelian. We give infinitely many examples of such groups, including certain dicyclic groups, by using results of Schmidt and Ito.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availibility
All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.
References
Chen, Y.Q., Feng, T.: Abelian and non-abelian Paley type group schemes. Preprint
Cohen, H.: A Course in Computational Algebraic Number Theory, GTM, vol. 138. Springer, Berlin (1996)
Ding, C., Yuan, J.: A family of skew Hadamard difference sets. J. Combin. Theory Ser. A 113, 1526–1535 (2006)
Ding, C., Wang, Z., Xiang, Q.: Skew Hadamard difference sets from the Ree-Tits slice symplectic spreads in PG(3,32h+1). J. Combin. Theory Ser. A 114, 867–887 (2007)
Evans, R.J.: Nonexistence of twentieth power residue difference sets. Acta Arith. 84, 397–402 (1999)
Feng, T., Xiang, Q.: Strongly regular graphs from union of cyclotomic classes. arXiv:1010.4107v2. MR2927417
Ikuta, T., Munemasa, A.: Pseudocyclic association schemes and strongly regular graphs. Eur. J. Combin. 31, 1513–1519 (2010)
Coulter, R.S., Gutekunst, T.: Special subsets of difference sets with particular emphasis on skew Hadamard difference sets. Des. Codes Cryptogr. 53(1), 1–12 (2009)
Isaacs, I.: Martin finite group theory. In: Graduate Studies in Mathematics, vol. 92. American Mathematical Society, Providence, pp. xii+350 (2008)
Babai, L., Cameron, P.J.: Automorphisms and enumeration of switching classes of tournaments. Electron. J. Combin. 7, Research Paper 38 (2000)
https://cameroncounts.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/groups-with-unique-involution
Malzan, J.: On groups with a single involution. Pac. J. Math. 57(2), 481–489 (1975)
Malzan, J.: Corrections to: “On groups with a single involution” (Pacific J. Math. 57 (1975), no. 2, 481–489). Pac. J. Math. 67(2), 555 (1976)
Isaacs, I.M.: Real representations of groups with a single involution. Pac. J. Math. 71(2), 463–464 (1977)
Schmidt, B.: Williamson matrices and a conjecture of Ito’s. Des. Codes Cryptogr. 17(1–3), 61–68 (1999)
Ito, N.: On Hadamard groups. III. Kyushu J. Math. 51(2), 369–379 (1997)
Muzychuk, M., Ponomarenko, I.: Schur rings. Eur. J. Combin. 30(6), 1526–1539 (2009)
Schur, I.: Zur Theorie der einfach transitiven Permutationsgruppen, pp. 598–623. Sitz. Preuss. Akad. Wiss, Berlin, Phys-math Klasse (1933)
Wielandt, H.: Finite Permutation Groups. Academic Press, New York–London, pp. x+114 (1964)
Wielandt, H.: Zur theorie der einfach transitiven permutationsgruppen II. Math. Z. 52, 384–393 (1949)
Moore, E.H., Pollatsek, H.S.: Difference sets. Connecting algebra, combinatorics, and geometry. In: Student Mathematical Library, vol. 67, pp. xiv+298. American Mathematical Society, Providence (2013)
Pott, A.: Finite geometry and character theory. In: Lecture Notes in Mathematics, vol. 1601. Springer, Berlin (1995)
Bosma, W., Cannon, J.: MAGMA. University of Sydney, Sydney (1994)
Acknowledgements
All computations made in the preparation of this paper were accomplished using Magma [23]. The first, second, third, and fifth authors thank Brigham Young University Department of Mathematics for funding during the writing of this paper. We are also grateful for useful suggestions from a referee.
Funding
The first, second, third, and fifth authors thank Brigham Young University Department of Mathematics for funding during the writing of this paper.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Anderson, G., Haviland, A., Holmes, M. et al. Difference Sets Disjoint from a Subgroup III: The Skew Relative Cases. Graphs and Combinatorics 39, 67 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00373-023-02662-8
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00373-023-02662-8