A difference set is a set of
elements of a group
of group
order
such that the quotients
with
contain every nonidentity element
of
exactly
times. It is then called an
-difference set in
and has difference set
order
.
A difference set with
is called a planar difference set. The quadratic residues in the finite
field
form a difference set in its additive group. Counting the
ordered quotients gives the necessary relation
Gordon maintains an index of known difference sets.