A subset $B$ of a group $G$ is called a difference basis of $G$ if each element $gin G$ can be written as the difference $g=ab^{-1}$ of some elements $a,bin B$. The smallest cardinality $|B|$ of a difference basis $Bsubset G$ is called the difference size of $G$ and is denoted by $Delta[G]$. The fraction $eth[G]:=frac{Delta[G]}{sqrt{|G|}}$ is called the difference characteristic of $G$. Using properies of the Galois rings, we prove recursive upper bounds for the difference sizes and characteristics of finite Abelian groups. In particular, we prove that for a prime number $pge 11$, any finite Abelian $p$-group $G$ has difference characteristic $eth[G]<frac{sqrt{p}-1}{sqrt{p}-3}cdotsup_{kinmathbb N}eth[C_{p^k}]<sqrt{2}cdotfrac{sqrt{p}-1}{sqrt{p}-3}$. Also we calculate the difference sizes of all Abelian groups of cardinality $<96$.
Download