Related papers: Embedding partial Latin squares in Latin squares w…

In this note we show that for each Latin square $L$ of order $n\geq 2$, there exists a Latin square $L'\neq L$ of order $n$ such that $L$ and $L'$ differ in at most $8\sqrt{n}$ cells. Equivalently, each Latin square of order $n$ contains a…

We offer a piece of evidence that the problems of finding the number of mutually unbiased bases (MUB) and mutually orthogonal Latin squares (MOLS) might not be equivalent. We study a particular procedure which has been shown to relate the…

For every positive integer $n$ greater than $4$ there is a set of Latin squares of order $n$ such that every permutation of the numbers $1,\ldots,n$ appears exactly once as a row, a column, a reverse row or a reverse column of one of the…

We study sets of mutually orthogonal Latin rectangles (MOLR), and a natural variation of the concept of self-orthogonal Latin squares which is applicable on larger sets of mutually orthogonal Latin squares and MOLR, namely that each Latin…

We define a cover of a Latin square to be a set of entries that includes at least one representative of each row, column and symbol. A cover is minimal if it does not contain any smaller cover. A partial transversal is a set of entries that…

Until now the problem counting Latin rectangles m x n has been solved with an explicit formula for m = 2, 3 and 4 only. In the present paper an explicit formula is provided for the calculation of the number of Latin rectangles for any order…

There exist pairs of orthogonal Latin squares of any order n except if n=2 or n=6 [Bose, Shrikhande and Parker, 1960]. In particular, the problem of Euler's thirty-six officers does not have a solution. However, it has a "quantum solution":…

We have performed a complete enumeration of non-isotopic triples of mutually orthogonal $k\times n$ Latin rectangles for $k\leq n \leq 7$. Here we will present a census of such triples, classified by various properties, including the order…

We show that k=w+2 mutually unbiased bases can be constructed in any square dimension d=s^2 provided that there are w mutually orthogonal Latin squares of order s. The construction combines the design-theoretic objects (k,s)-nets (which can…

A critical set in an $n \times n$ array is a set $C$ of given entries, such that there exists a unique extension of $C$ to an $n\times n$ Latin square and no proper subset of $C$ has this property. For a Latin square $L$, $\scs{L}$ denotes…

We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for there to exist a latin square of order $n$ containing two subsquares of order $a$ and $b$ that intersect in a subsquare of order $c$. We also solve the case of two disjoint subsquares. We…

A Latin square $L(n,k)$ is a square of order $n$ with its entries colored with $k$ colors so that all the entries in a row or column have different colors. Let $d(L(n,k))$ be the minimal number of colored entries of an $n \times n$ square…

Consider a partial Latin square $P$ where the first two rows and first three columns are completely filled, and every other cell of $P$ is empty. It has been conjectured that all such partial Latin squares of order at least $8$ are…

A multi-latin square of order $n$ and index $k$ is an $n\times n$ array of multisets, each of cardinality $k$, such that each symbol from a fixed set of size $n$ occurs $k$ times in each row and $k$ times in each column. A multi-latin…

A classical recursive construction for mutually orthogonal latin squares (MOLS) is shown to hold more generally for a class of permutation codes of length $n$ and minimum distance $n-1$. When such codes of length $p+1$ are included as…

The logarithm of the maximum number of transversals over all latin squares of order $n$ is greater than $\frac{n}{6}(\ln n+ O(1))$.

For integers $n>2$ and $k>0$, an $(n\times n)/k$ semi-Latin square is an $n\times n$ array of $k$-subsets (called blocks) of an $nk$-set (of treatments), such that each treatment occurs once in each row and once in each column of the array.…

We show there is a natural connection between Latin squares and commutative sets of monomials defining geometric structures in finite phase-space of prime power dimensions. A complete set of such monomials defines a mutually unbiased basis…

We prove several results about substructures in Latin squares. First, we explain how to adapt our recent work on high-girth Steiner triple systems to the setting of Latin squares, resolving a conjecture of Linial that there exist Latin…

An arrangement of s elements in s rows and s columns, such that no element repeats more than once in each row and each column is called a Latin square of order s. If two Latin squares of the same order superimposed one on the other and in…