Algorithms and Complexity for Counting Configurations in Steiner Triple Systems

Abstract

Steiner triple systems form one of the most studied classes of combinatorial designs. Configurations, including subsystems, play a central role in the investigation of Steiner triple systems. With sporadic instances of small systems, ad-hoc algorithms for counting or listing configurations are typically fast enough for practical needs, but with many systems or large systems, the relevance of computational complexity and algorithms of low complexity is highlighted. General theoretical results as well as specific practical algorithms for important configurations are presented.