Minimal Enclosings of Triple Systems \(II\): Increasing The Index By \(1\)

Abstract

In Minimal Enclosings of Triple Systems I, we solved the problem of minimal enclosings of \(\text{BIBD}(v, 3, \lambda)\) into \(\text{BIBD}(v+1, 3, \lambda+m)\) for \(1 \leq \lambda \leq 6\) with a minimal \(m \geq 1\). Here we consider a new problem relating to the existence of enclosings for triple systems for any \(v\), with \(1 < 4 < 6\), of \(\text{BIBD}(v, 3, \lambda)\) into \(\text{BIBD}(v+s, 3, \lambda+1)\) for minimal positive \(s\). The non-existence of enclosings for otherwise suitable parameters is proved, and for the first time the difficult cases for even \(\lambda\) are considered. We completely solve the case for \(\lambda \leq 3\) and \(\lambda = 5\), and partially complete the cases \(\lambda = 4\) and \(\lambda = 6\). In some cases a \(1\)-factorization of a complete graph or complete \(n\)-partite graph is used to obtain the minimal enclosing. A list of open cases for \(\lambda = 4\) and \(\lambda = 6\) is attached.