Let $G$ be a simple algebraic group. Labelled trivalent graphs called webs can be used to produce invariants in tensor products of minuscule representations. For each web, we construct a configuration space of points in the affine Grassmannian. Via the geometric Satake correspondence, we relate these configuration spaces to the invariant vectors coming from webs. In the case of $G= \mathrm{SL} (3)$, non-elliptic webs yield a basis for the invariant spaces. The non-elliptic condition, which is equivalent to the condition that the dual diskoid of the web is $\mathrm{CAT} (0)$, is explained by the fact that affine buildings are $\mathrm{CAT} (0)$.

In a recent paper of Ellenberg, Oberlin, and Tao [The Kakeya set and maximal conjectures for algebraic varieties over finite fields. Mathematika 56 (2010), 1–25], the authors asked whether there are Besicovitch phenomena in ${ \mathbb{F} }_{q} \mathop{[[t] ] }\nolimits ^{n} $. In this paper, we answer their question in the affirmative by explicitly constructing a Kakeya set of measure zero in ${ \mathbb{F} }_{q} \mathop{[[t] ] }\nolimits ^{n} $. Furthermore, we prove that any Kakeya set in ${ \mathbb{F} }_{q} \mathop{[[t] ] }\nolimits ^{2} $ or ${ \mathbb{Z} }_{p}^{2} $ is of Minkowski dimension 2.

We show that every automorphism of a thick twin building interchanging the halves of the building maps some residue to an opposite one. Furthermore, we show that no automorphism of a locally finite 2-spherical twin building of rank at least 3 maps every residue of one fixed type to an opposite (a key step in the proof is showing that every duality of a thick finite projective plane admits an absolute point). Our results also hold for all finite irreducible spherical buildings of rank at least 3, and imply that every involution of a thick irreducible finite spherical building of rank at least 3 has a fixed residue.

Let Δ be an affine building of type and let 𝔸 be its fundamental apartment. We consider the set 𝕌0 of vertices of type 0 of 𝔸 and prove that the Hecke algebra of all W0-invariant difference operators with constant coefficients acting on 𝕌0 has three generators. This property leads us to define three Laplace operators on vertices of type 0 of Δ. We prove that there exists a joint eigenspace of these operators having dimension greater than ∣W0 ∣. This implies that there exist joint eigenfunctions of the Laplacians that cannot be expressed, via the Poisson transform, in terms of a finitely additive measure on the maximal boundary Ω of Δ.

Using the polynomial method of Dvir [On the size of Kakeya sets in finite fields. Preprint], we establish optimal estimates for Kakeya sets and Kakeya maximal functions associated to algebraic varieties W over finite fields F. For instance, given an (n−1)-dimensional projective variety W⊂¶n(F), we establish the Kakeya maximal estimate for all functions f:Fn→R and d≥1, where for each w∈W, the supremum is over all irreducible algebraic curves in Fn of degree at most d that pass through w but do not lie in W, and with Cn,W,d depending only on n,d and the degree of W; the special case when W is the hyperplane at infinity in particular establishes the Kakeya maximal function conjecture in finite fields, which in turn strengthens the results of Dvir.

A construction of finite semifield planes of order n using irreducible semilinear transformations on a finite vector space of size n is shown to produce fewer than different nondesarguesian planes.

We show that an elation generalized quadrangle that has p+1 lines on each point, for some prime p, is classical or arises from a flock of a quadratic cone (that is, is a flock quadrangle).

A Laguerre plane is a geometry of points, lines and circles where three pairwise non-collinear points lie on a unique circle, any line and circle meet uniquely and finally, given a circle C and a point Q not on it for each point P on C there is a unique circle on Q and touching C at P. We generalise to a Laguerre geometry where three pairwise non-collinear points lie on a constant number of circles. Examples and conditions on the parameters of a Laguerre geometry are given.

A generalized quadrangle (GQ) is a point, line geometry in which for a non-incident point, line pair (P. m) there exists a unique point on m collinear with P. In certain cases we construct a Laguerre geometry from a GQ and conversely. Using Laguerre geometries we show that a GQ of order (s. s2) satisfying Property (G) at a pair of points is equivalent to a configuration of ovoids in three-dimensional projective space.

Projective planes of order n with a coUineation group admitting a 2-transitive orbit on a line of length at least n/2 are investigated and new examples are provided.

We propose the use of finite Fourier series as an alternative means of representing ovals in projective planes of even order. As an example to illustrate the method's potential, we show that the set {wj + w3j + w−3j: 0 ≤ j ≤ 2h} ⊂ GF (22h) forms an oval if w is a primitive (2h + 1)st root of unity in GF(22h) and GF(22h) is viewed as an affine plane over GF(2h). For the verification, we only need some elementary ‘trigonometric identities’ and a basic irreducibility lemma that is of independent interest. Finally, we show that our example is the Payne oval when h is odd, and the Adelaide oval when h is even.

New proofs are given of the fundamental results of Bader, Lunardon and Thas relating flocks of the quadratic cone in PG(3, q), q odd, and BLT-sets of Q(4, q). We also show that there is a unique BLT-set of H(3, 9). The model of Penttila for Q(4, q), q odd, is extended to Q(2m, q) to construct partial flocks of size qm/2+m/2 – 1 of the cone kin PG(2m – 1, q) with vertex a point and base Q(2m – 2, q), where q is congruent to 1 or 3 modulo 8 and m is even. These partial flocks are larger than the largest previously known for m > 2. Also, the example of O'Keefe and Thas of a partial flock of k in PG(5, 3) of size 6 is generalised to a partial flock of the cone k of PG(2pn – 1, p) of size 2pn, for any prime p congruent to 1 or 3 modulo 8, with the corresponding partial BLT-set of Q(2pn, p) admitting the symmetric group of degree 2pn + 1.

We distribute the points and lines of PG(2, 2n+1) according to a special structure that we call the daisy structure. This distribution is intimately related to a special block design which turns out to be isomorphic to PG(n, 2).

We show a blocking set of 3q points in PG(2, 2n+1)that intersects each line in at least two points and we apply this to find a lower bound for the heterochromatic number of the projective plane.

We define the Radon transform for functions on the set of chambers of affine, locally finite, rank three buildings. We investigate the problem of the inversion of this transform. Explicit inversion formulas are exhibited for functions which fulfill required summability conditions.

Let K be a nonarchimedean local field, let L be a separable quadratic extension of K, and let h denote a nondegenerate sesquilinear formk on L3. The Bruhat-Tits building associated with SU3(h) is a tree. This is applied to the study of certain groups acting simply transitively on vertices of the building associated with SL(3, F), F = Q3 or F3((X)).

This paper is an expository introduction to recent and current work on geometries associated with minimal parabolic subgroups and maximal 2-local subgroups of finite sporadic, based on lectures given by the authors at the Canberra Group Workshop, held at the Australian National University in June 1993.

We develop techniques to compute the homology of Quillen's complex of elementary abelian p-subgroups of a finite group in the case where the group has a normal subgroup of order divisible by p. The main result is a long exact sequence relating the homologies of these complexes for the whole group, the normal subgroup, and certain centralizer subgroups. The proof takes place at the level of partially-ordered sets. Notions of suspension and wedge product are considered in this context, which are analogous to the corresponding notions for topological spaces. We conclude with a formula for the generalized Steinberg module of a group with a normal subgroup, and give some examples.

Let Δ be a thick building of type Ã2, and let be its set of vertices. We study a commutative algebra of ‘averaging’ operators acting on the space of complex valued functions on . This algebra may be identified with a space of ‘biradial functions’ on , or with a convolution algebra of bi-K-invariant functions on G, if G is a sufficiently large group of ‘type-rotating’ automorphisms of Δ, and K is the subgroup of G fixing a given vertex. We describe the multiplicative functionals on and the corresponding spherical functions. We consider the C*-algebra induced by on l2, find its spectrum Σ, prove positive definiteness of a kernel kz for each z ∈ Σ, find explicity the spherical Plancherel formula for any group G of type rotating automorphisms, and discuss the irreducibility of the unitary representations appearing therein. For the class of buildings ΔJ arising from the groups ΓJ introduced in [2], this involves proving that the weak closure of is maximal abelian in the von Neumann algebra generated by the left regular representation of ΓJ.

In this paper we prove that if an oval in a finite projective plane of order n ≡ 3 (mod 4) has the four point Pascal property and if each of its tangents and secants has the five point Pascal property, then the plane is Pappian and the oval is a conic.

We also establish results concerning Ostrom conics and ovals with the three point and four point Pascal properties.

Let S be a finite linear space on v ≥ n2 –n points and b = n2+n+1–m lines, m ≧ 0, n ≧ 1, such that at most m points are not on n + 1 lines. If m ≧ 1, except if m = 1 and a unique point on n lines is on no line with two points, then S embeds uniquely in a projective plane of order n or is one exceptional case if n =4. If m ≦ 1 and if v ≧ n2 – 2√n + 3, + 6, the same conclusion holds, except possibly for the uniqueness.

1991 Mathematics subject classification (Amer. Math. Soc.) 05 B 05, 51 E 10.

In this paper we investigate the structure of a collineation group G of a finite projective plane Π of odd order, assuming that G leaves invariant an oval Ω of Π. We show that if G is nonabelian simple, then G ≅ PSL(2, q) for q odd. Several results about the structre and the action of G are also obtained under the assumptions that n ≡ 1 (4) and G is transitive on the points of Ω.