Tight sets in finite classical polar spaces

Abstract

Abstract We show that every i-tight set in the Hermitian variety H(2r + 1, q) is a union of pairwise disjoint (2r + 1)-dimensional Baer subgeometries PG ( 2 r + 1 , q ) $\text{PG}(2r+1,\,\sqrt{q})$ and generators of H(2r + 1, q), if q ≥ 81 is an odd square and i < (q 2/3 − 1)/2. We also show that an i-tight set in the symplectic polar space W(2r + 1, q) is a union of pairwise disjoint generators of W(2r + 1, q), pairs of disjoint r-spaces {Δ, Δ ⊥}, and (2r + 1)-dimensional Baer subgeometries. For W(2r + 1, q) with r even, pairs of disjoint r-spaces {Δ, Δ ⊥} cannot occur. The (2r + 1)-dimensional Baer subgeometries in the i-tight set of W(2r + 1, q) are invariant under the symplectic polarity ⊥ of W(2r + 1, q) or they arise in pairs of disjoint Baer subgeometries corresponding to each other under ⊥. This improves previous results where i < q 5 / 8 / 2 + 1 $i \lt q^{5/8} / \sqrt{2} +1$ was assumed. Generalizing known techniques and using recent results on blocking sets and minihypers, we present an alternative proof of this result and consequently improve the upper bound on i to (q 2/3 − 1)/2. We also apply our results on tight sets to improve a known result on maximal partial spreads in W(2r + 1, q).