# Galois geometry

Briefly speaking, Galois geometry is analytical and algebraic geometry over a Galois field, that is, geometry over a finite field (cf. also Analytic geometry; Algebraic geometry). Its beginning may be traced back to a result of B. Segre (1954), saying that every $(q+1)$-arc, i.e. set of $q+1$ three-by-three non-collinear points, of a projective Galois plane $PG(2, q), q = p^h, p$ an odd prime number, is an irreducible conic [a7].

The connections between Galois geometry and other branches of mathematics are numerous: classical algebraic geometry and algebra [a18], information theory [a11], physics [a14], coding theory (cf. also Coding and decoding) [a12], cryptography [a17] and mathematical statistics [a11], [a13].

There are graphic characterizations of remarkable algebraic varieties [a15] like quadrics [a10], Veronese varieties, Grassmann varieties, unitals [a8], etc. (cf. also Algebraic variety). Further, there are links between caps and codes [a12], [a13] (cf. also Goppa code), with the classification of $k$-sets from the point of view of characters [a9], and with the study of ovals and hyperovals, the theory of spreads and blocking sets and the theory of combinatorial designs [a16] (cf. also Block design).

General references are: [a1], [a2], [a3], [a4], [a5], [a6]. The other references deal with specific topics related with Galois geometry.

#### References

 [a1] T. Beth, D. Jungnickel, H. Lenz, "Design theory" , BI Wissenschaftsverlag & Cambridge Univ. Press (1984) MR1742365 MR1729456 MR0890103 MR0779284 Zbl 0945.05005 Zbl 0945.05004 Zbl 0602.05001 Zbl 0569.05002 [a2] J.W.P. Hirschfeld, "Projective geometries over finite fields" , Oxford Univ. Press (1979) MR0554919 Zbl 0418.51002 [a3] J.W.P. Hirschfeld, "Finite projective spaces in three dimensions" , Oxford Univ. Press (1985) MR840877 [a4] J.W.P. Hirschfeld, J.A. Thas, "General Galois geometries" , Oxford Sci. Publ. , Clarendon Press (1991) MR1363259 Zbl 0789.51001 [a5] B. Segre, "Introduction to Galois geometries" J.W.P. Hirschfeld (ed.) Atti Accad. Naz. Lincei, Mem. , 8 (1967) pp. 133–236 MR0238846 Zbl 0194.21503 [a6] M. Scafati, G. Tallini, "Geometrie di Galois e teoria dei codici" , CISU , Roma (1995) [a7] B. Segre, "Ovals in a finite projective plane" Canad. J. Math. , 7 (1955) pp. 414–416 MR0071034 Zbl 0065.13402 [a8] M. Scafati Tallini, "Caratterizzazione grafica delle forme hermitiane di un " Rend. Mat. Roma , 26 (1967) pp. 273–303 Zbl 0162.24201 [a9] M. Scafati Tallini, "On -sets of kind of a finite projective or affine space" Ann. Discrete Math. , 14 (1982) pp. 39–56 [a10] G. Tallini, "Sulle -calotte di uno spazio lineare finito" Ann. di Mat. (4) , 42 (1956) pp. 119–164 MR85531 [a11] G. Tallini, "Le geometrie di Galois e le loro applicazioni alla statistica e alla teoria dell'informazione" Rend. Mat. Roma , 19 (1960) pp. 379–400 MR0125484 Zbl 0211.51403 [a12] G. Tallini, "On caps of kind in a Galois -dimensional space" Acta Arithmetica , VII (1961) pp. 19–28 MR150647 [a13] G. Tallini, "Un'applicazione delle geometrie di Galois a questioni di statistica" Rend. Accad. Naz. Lincei , 8 (1963) pp. 479–485 MR0167432 [a14] G. Tallini, "Geometrie di Galois e loro applicazioni alla fisica" , Lecture Notes Sem. Lab. Naz. CNEN , F–70–63 (1970) [a15] G. Tallini, "Graphic characterization of algebraic varieties in Galois space" , Atti Conv. Int. Teorie Combinatorie , II , Accad. Naz. Lincei (1976) pp. 153–165 MR462986 Zbl 0364.50010 [a16] G. Tallini, "Lectures on Galois geometries and Steiner systems" , Geometries, Codes and Cryptography: CISM courses and lectures , 313 , Springer (1990) pp. 1–23 MR1140926 Zbl 0714.51002 [a17] G. Tallini, A. Beutelspacher, "Examples of essentially -fold secure geometric authentication systems with large " Rend. Mat. Roma (VII) , 10 (1990) pp. 321–326 MR1076161 [a18] G. Tallini, "General multivalued algebraic structures and geometric spaces" , Proc. 4th Int. Congress on Algebraic Hyperstructures and Applications, Xanthi, Greece (1990) pp. 197–202 MR1125331
How to Cite This Entry:
Galois geometry. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Galois_geometry&oldid=30998
This article was adapted from an original article by M. Scafati Tallini (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article