Subgroups of Finite Fields As Cap Sets

Abstract: We show the subgroup of 20 nonzero fourth powers in the finite field of order 81 is a cap set. Similarly, the subgroup of 9 nonzero seventh powers in the field of order 64 is a cap set. These are the cases related to the card games of SET and EvenQuads, and both are known to be maximal cap sets. A corollary is that the cosets of these subgroups form a partition by maximal caps of the multiplicative groups of their respective fields. We identify certain multiplicative subgroups of fields of orders 243 and 729 as cap sets, and show in general that the subgroup of $(2^n-1)$-th powers is a cap set in the field of order $2^{2n}$.