English

Towards the classification of maximum scattered linear sets of $\mathrm{PG}(1,q^5)$

Combinatorics 2026-01-16 v3

Abstract

Every maximum scattered linear set in PG(1,q5)\mathrm{PG}(1,q^5) is the projection of an Fq\mathbb{F}_q-subgeometry Σ\Sigma of PG(4,q5)\mathrm{PG}(4,q^5) from a plane Γ\Gamma external to the secant variety to Σ\Sigma. The pair (Γ,Σ)(\Gamma,\Sigma) will be called a projecting configuration for the linear set. The projecting configurations for the only known maximum scattered linear sets in PG(1,q5)\mathrm{PG}(1,q^5), namely those of pseudoregulus and LP type, have been characterized in the literature by B. Csajb\'{o}k, C. Zanella in 2016 and by C. Zanella, F. Zullo in 2020. Let (Γ,Σ)(\Gamma,\Sigma) be a projecting configuration for a maximum scattered linear set in PG(1,q5)\mathrm{PG}(1,q^5), let σ\sigma be a generator of G=PΓL(5,q5)Σ\mathbb{G}=\mathrm{P}\Gamma \mathrm{L}(5,q^5)_\Sigma, and A=ΓΓσ4A=\Gamma\cap\Gamma^{\sigma^4}, B=ΓΓσ3B=\Gamma\cap\Gamma^{\sigma^3}. If AA and BB are not both points, then the projected linear set is of pseudoregulus type. Then, suppose that they are points. The rank of a point XX is the vectorial dimension of the span of the orbit of XX under the action of G\mathbb{G}. In this paper, by investigating the geometric properties of projecting configurations, it is proved that if at least one of the points AA and BB has rank 5, the associated maximum scattered linear set must be of LP type. Then, if a maximum scattered linear set of a new type exists, it must be such that rkA=rkB=4\mathrm{rk} A=\mathrm{rk} B=4. In this paper we derive two possible polynomial forms that such a linear set must have. An exhaustive analysis by computer shows that for q25q\leq 25, no new maximum scattered linear set exists.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2507.23409,
  title  = {Towards the classification of maximum scattered linear sets of $\mathrm{PG}(1,q^5)$},
  author = {Stefano Lia and Giovanni Longobardi and Corrado Zanella},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2507.23409},
  year   = {2026}
}