Tags:Combinatorial Enumeration, Computer-assisted Proof, Satisfiability Checking and Symbolic Computation
Abstract:
In this paper we describe a method of enumerating projective planes of order nine. The enumeration was previously completed by Lam, Kolesova, and Thiel using highly optimized and customized search code. Despite the importance of this result in the classification of projective geometries, the previous search relied on unverified code and has never been independently verified. Our enumeration procedure uses a hybrid satisfiability (SAT) solving and symbolic computation approach. SAT solving performs an enumerative search, while symbolic computation removes symmetries from the search space. Certificates are produced which demonstrate the enumeration completed successfully.
Enumerating Projective Planes of Order Nine with Proof Verification