Invariants and constructions of mendelsohn designs

Abstract

In this paper we examine Mendelsohn designs and some connections to topology which lead to an easily described algorithm for computing invariants of these designs. The results are applied to designs which have natural group actions. We also use the topology to describe when ordinary two-fold triple systems with a group action lead to Mendelsohn designs with the same group action. Procedures for constructing Mendelsohn designs are also given. In particular, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for constructing 2-(v, 4, 1) Mendelsohn designs.