Block-avoiding point sequencings of arbitrary length in Steiner triple systems

Abstract

An $\ell$-good sequencing of an STS$(v)$ is a permutation of the points of the design such that no $\ell$ consecutive points in this permutation contain a block of the design. We prove that, for every integer $\ell \ge 3$, there is an $\ell$-good sequencing of any STS$(v)$ provided that $v$ is sufficiently large. We also prove some new nonexistence results for $\ell$-good sequencings of STS$(v)$.