Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Open Access Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences (MS)

Administrative Home Department

Department of Mathematical Sciences

Advisor 1

Zeying Wang

Committee Member 1

Vladimir Tonchev

Committee Member 2

Nilufer Onder

Abstract

This thesis shows results on 3 different problems involving partial difference sets (PDS) in abelian groups, and uses PDS to study partial geometries with an abelian Singer group. First, the last two undetermined cases of PDS on abelian groups with k ≤ 100, both of order 216, were shown not to exist. Second, new parameter bounds for k and ∆ were found for PDS on abelian groups of order p^n , p an odd prime, n odd. A parameter search on p^5 in particular was conducted, and only 5 possible such cases remain for p < 250. Lastly, the existence of rigid type partial geometries with an abelian Singer group are examined; existence is left undetermined for 11 cases with α ≤ 200. This final study led to the determination of nonexistence for an infinite class of cases which impose a negative Latin type PDS.

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