Abstract
dc:description.abstractAn interesting thing happens when one begins with the axioms of a field, but does not require the associative and commutative properties. The resulting nonassociative division ring is referred to as a ``semifield" in this paper. Semifields have intimate ties to finite projective planes. In short, a finite projective plane with certain restrictions gives rise to a semifield, and, in turn, a finite semifield can be used via a coordinate construction, to build a special finite projective plane. It is also shown that two finite semifields provide a coordinate system for isomorphic projective planes if and only if the semifields are isotopic, where isotopy is a relationship similar to but weaker than isomorphism. Before we prove those results, we explore the nature of isotopy to get a little better feel for the concept. For example, we look at isotopy for associative algebras. We will also examine a particular family of semifields and gather concrete information about solutions to linear equations and isomorphisms.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Mathematics
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Mathematics
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2000
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Landquist, Eric Jon
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Farkas, Daniel R.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Brown, Ezra A.
- Green, Edward L.
Subjects
dc:subject × 4Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- etd-05182000-12080004
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/32937