Maximal Partial Spreads of Polar Spaces

Some constructions of maximal partial spreads of finite classical polar spaces are provided. In particular we show that, for $n \ge 1$, $\mathcal{H}(4n-1,q^2)$ has a maximal partial spread of size $q^{2n}+1$, $\mathcal{H}(4n+1,q^2)$ has a maximal partial spread of size $q^{2n+1}+1$ and, for $n \ge 2$, $\mathcal{Q}^+(4n-1,q)$, $\mathcal{Q}(4n-2,q)$, $\mathcal{W}(4n-1,q)$, $q$ even, $\mathcal{W}(4n-3,q)$, $q$ even, have a maximal partial spread of size $q^n+1$.

On maximal symplectic partial spreads

New types of maximal symplectic partial spreads are constructed.

Constant Rank-Distance Sets of Hermitian Matrices and Partial Spreads in Hermitian Polar Spaces

In this paper we investigate partial spreads of $H(2n-1,q^2)$ through the related notion of partial spread sets of hermitian matrices, and the more general notion of constant rank-distance sets. We prove a tight upper bound on the maximum size of a linear constant rank-distance set of hermitian matrices over finite fields, and as a consequence prove the maximality of extensions of symplectic semifield spreads as partial spreads of $H(2n-1,q^2)$. We prove upper bounds for constant rank-distance sets for even rank, construct large examples of these, and construct maximal partial spreads of $H(3,q^2)$ for a range of sizes.