Computing Transverse \(t\)-Designs

Kimberly A. Lauinger1, Donald L. Kreher1, Rolf Rees2, D. R. Stinson3
1Department of Mathematical Sciences Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI 49931-1295, USA
2Department of Mathematics and Statistics Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John’s, Newfoundland A1C 587, Canada
3School of Computer Science University of Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a computational method for constructing transverse \( t \)-designs. An algorithm is presented that computes the \( G \)-orbits of \( k \)-element subsets transverse to a partition \( \mathcal{H} \), given that an automorphism group \( G \) is provided. We then use this method to investigate transverse Steiner quadruple systems. We also develop recursive constructions for transverse Steiner quadruple systems, and we provide a table of existence results for these designs when the number of points \( v \leq 24 \). Finally, some results on transverse \( t \)-designs with \( t > 3 \) are also presented.