Pairwise intersections and forbidden configurations - Peter Keevash

Let fm(a,b,c,d) denote the maximum size family of a family F of subsets of an m-element set so that there is no pair A,B ∈ F with

    |A∩ B|≥ a,     |Ac ∩ B|≥ b,     |A∩ Bc|≥ c,     |Ac∩ Bc|≥ d.

By symmetry we can assume ad and bc. We show that fm(a,b,c,d) is Θ(ma+b-1) if either b > c or a,b≥ 1. We also show fm(0,b,b,0) is Θ(mb) and fm(a,0,0,d) is Θ(ma). This can be viewed as a result concerning forbidden configurations, and provides further evidence for a conjecture of Anstee and Sali. Our key tool is a strong stability version of the Ahlswede-Khachatrian Complete Intersection Theorem, which is of independent interest.

This is joint work with Richard Anstee.