Using Symbolic Computation to Prove Nonexistence of Distance-Regular Graphs

A package for the Sage computer algebra system is developed for checking feasibility of a given intersection array for a distance-regular graph. We use this tool to show that there is no distance-regular graph with intersection array$$\{(2r+1)(4r+1)(4t-1), 8r(4rt-r+2t), (r+t)(4r+1); 1, (r+t)(4r+1), 4r(2r+1)(4t-1)\} (r, t \geq 1),$$$\{135,\! 128,\! 16; 1,\! 16,\! 120\}$, $\{234,\! 165,\! 12; 1,\! 30,\! 198\}$ or $\{55,\! 54,\! 50,\! 35,\! 10; 1,\! 5,\! 20,\! 45,\! 55\}$. In all cases, the proofs rely on equality in the Krein condition, from which triple intersection numbers are determined. Further combinatorial arguments are then used to derive nonexistence.

Inequivalence of Skew Hadamard Difference Sets and Triple Intersection Numbers Modulo a Prime

Recently, Feng and Xiang found a new construction of skew Hadamard difference sets in elementary abelian groups. In this paper, we introduce a new invariant for equivalence of skew Hadamard difference sets, namely triple intersection numbers modulo a prime, and discuss inequivalence between Feng-Xiang skew Hadamard difference sets and the Paley difference sets. As a consequence, we show that their construction produces infinitely many skew Hadamard difference sets inequivalent to the Paley difference sets.