The SL(2) infinite-series conjecture for unitals

From papers

Let kk be the cardinality of a finite field, let G=SL(2,Fk)G=SL(2,\mathbb F_k), and let a GG-space split into one orbit of size G|G| and k+1k+1 orbits of size 11. The SL(2) infinite-series conjecture. For every finite field Fk\mathbb F_k, there exists a Steiner system (and unital)

S(2,k+1,k3+1)S(2,k+1,k^3+1)

based on this GG-space. The conjecture has been confirmed for k{2,3,4,5,8}k\in\{2,3,4,5,8\}. These designs can correspond to the unitals in Hall planes; for k{3,4}k\in\{3,4\}, the corresponding unitals are isomorphic to Hall plane unitals. The assertion remains open for general finite fields.

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Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Ivan Hetman, “Existence of S(2,9,369), new unitals of order 6 and other Steiner systems with block length 7”, arXiv:2511.20708 (2026).

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