A survey of the different types of vector space partitions

Abstract

A {\it vector space partition} is here a collection $\mathcal{P}$ of subspaces of a finite vector space $V(n,q)$, of dimension $n$ over a finite field with $q$ elements, with the property that every non zero vector is contained in a unique member of $\mathcal{P}$. Vector space partitions relates to finite projective planes, design theory and error correcting codes. In the first part of the talk I will discuss some relations between vector space partitions and other branches of mathematics. The other part of the talk contains a survey of known results on the type of a vector space partition, more precisely: the theorem of Beutelspacher and Heden on $\mathrm{T}$-partitions, rather recent results of El-Zanati et al. on the different types that appear in the spaces V(n,2), for $n\le 8$, a result of Heden and Lehmann on vector space partitions and maximal partial spreads including their new necessary condition for the existence of a vector space partition, and furthermore, I will give a theorem of Heden on the length of the tail of a vector space partition. Finally, I will also give a few historical remarks.

This talk was presented at Matematiska kollokviet at Department of Mathematics at Linköping University on May 19, 2010