Compact Ovoids in Quadrangles II: the Classical Quadrangles

In this second part we consider ovoids in the classical compact connected quadrangles. We solve the problem whether closed ovoids or spreads exist in these quadrangles. In fact we prove a slightly more general result: we determine whether the normal sphere bundles of the point- or line space admit sections, or whether they are topologically trivial. We also give explicit geometric constructions for spreads and ovoids. Some of these spreads are apparently new.     

Compact Ovoids in Quadrangles I: Geometric Constructions

This paper is about ovoids in infinite generalized quadrangles. Using the axiom of choice, Cameron showed that infinite quadrangles contain many ovoids. Therefore, we consider mainly closed ovoids in compact quadrangles. After deriving some basic properties of compact ovoids, we consider ovoids which arise from full imbeddings. This leads to restrictions for the topological parameters (m,m). For example, if there is a regular pair of lines or a full closed subquadrangle, then mm. The existence of full subquadrangles implies the nonexistence of ideal subquadrangles, so finite-dimensional quadrangles are either point-minimal or line-minimal. Another result is that (up to duality) such a quadrangle is spanned by the set of points on an ordinary quadrangle. This is useful for studying orbits of automorphism groups. Finally we prove general nonexistence results for ovoids in quadrangles with low-dimensional line pencils. As one consequence we show that the symplectic quadrangle over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0 has no Zariski-closed ovoids or spreads.     

Ovoids and Bipartite Subgraphs in Generalized Quadrangles

A point-line incidence system is called an -partial geometry of order (s,t) if each line contains s + 1 points, each point lies on t + 1 lines, and for any point a not lying on a line L, there exist precisely lines passing through a and intersecting L (the notation is pG (s,t)). If = 1, then such a geometry is called a generalized quadrangle and denoted by GQ(s,t). It is established that if a pseudogeometric graph for a generalized quadrangle GQ(s,s ² – s) contains more than two ovoids, then s = 2. It is proved that the point graph of a generalized quadrangle GQ(4,t) contains no K _4,6-subgraphs. Finally, it is shown that if some -subgraph of a pseudogeometric graph for a generalized quadrangle GQ(4,t) contains a triangle, then t 6.     

Compact Ovoids in Quadrangles III: Clifford Algebras and Isoparametric Hypersurfaces

In this third part, we consider those compact quadrangles which arise from isoparametric hypersurfaces of Clifford type and their focal manifolds. Sections 9–11 give a comprehensive introduction to these quadrangles from the incidence-geometric point of view. Section 10 contains also a new (algebraic) proof that these geometries are quadrangles.We determine which of these quadrangles have ovoids or spreads and also whether the normal sphere bundles of the focal manifolds admit sections, or whether they are topologically trivial. We give explicit geometric constructions for spreads, ovoids, and sections.     

Flocks, Ovoids of Q(4,q)and Designs

We prove that an ovoid O of Q(4,q),q odd, is the Thas' ovoid associated with a semifield flock if and only if O represents, on the Klein quadric, a symplectic spread of PG(3,q), whose associated plane is a semifiled plane.     

Applications of Number Theory to Ovoids and Translation Planes

In this paper we show that for each prime p7 there exists a translation plane of order p ² of Mason–Ostrom type. These planes occur as six-dimensional ovoids being projections of the eight-dimensional binary ovoids of Conway, Kleidman and Wilson. In order to verify the existence of such projections we prove certain properties of two particular quadratic forms using classical methods form number theory.     

Ovoids of Parabolic Spaces

A new ovoid in the orthogonal space O(5,3⁵) is presented, along with its associated spreads and (semifield) translation planes. Sundry results on ovoids and spreads are given. In particular, we complete the calculation of the stabilisers of the known O(5,q) ovoids.     

Translation Ovoids and Spreads of the Generalized Hexagon H(q)

Ovoids of the finite classical generalized hexagon H(q) that are translation with respect to a point are classified. By duality, translation spreads with respect to a line are classified when the characteristic is three. When the characteristic is not equal to three, it is shown that there are no ovoids that are translation with respect to a flag.     

Characterizations of Translation Generalized Quadrangles

If x is a regular point of the generalizedquadrangle of order (s,t), s 1 t, then x defines a dual net . If contains a line L of regularpoints and if for at least one point x on Lthe automorphism group of the dual net satisfies certain transitivityproperties, then is a translation generalized quadrangle. Thisresult has many applications. We give one example. Ifs=t 1, then is a dual affine plane. Let be a generalizedquadrangle of orders,s odd and s 1, which contains a lineL of regular points. If for at least one pointx on L the plane is Desarguesian, then is isomorphic to the classical generalizedquadrangleW(s).     

Groups of Projectivities of Generalized Quadrangles

We characterize some classical quadrangles by means of properties of their groups of projectivities. In particular, we characterize all finite classical quadrangles with regular lines, and all symplectic quadrangles over quadratically closed fields.     

Translation Generalized Quadrangles In Even Characteristic

In this paper, we first introduce new objects called “translation generalized ovals” and “translation generalized ovoids”, and make a thorough study of these objects. We then obtain numerous new characterizations of the of Tits and the classical generalized quadrangle in even characteristic, including the complete classification of 2-transitive generalized ovals for the even case. Next, we prove a new strong characterization theorem for the of Tits. As a corollary, we obtain a purely geometric proof of a theorem of Johnson on semifield flocks. * The second author is a Postdoctoral Fellow of the Fund for Scientific Research—Flanders (Belgium).     

On Near Hexagons and Spreads of Generalized Quadrangles

The glueing-construction described in this paper makes use of two generalized quadrangles with a spread in each of them and yields a partial linear space with special properties. We study the conditions under which glueing will give a near hexagon. These near hexagons satisfy the nice property that every two points at distance 2 are contained in a quad. We characterize the class of the glued near hexagons and give examples, some of which are new near hexagons.     

Generalized Quadrangles and Transitive Pseudo‐Hyperovals

A pseudo‐hyperoval of a projective space , q even, is a set of subspaces of dimension such that any three span the whole space. We prove that a pseudo‐hyperoval with an irreducible transitive stabilizer is elementary. We then deduce from this result a classification of the thick generalized quadrangles that admit a point‐primitive, line‐transitive automorphism group with a point‐regular abelian normal subgroup. Specifically, we show that is flag‐transitive and isomorphic to , where is either the regular hyperoval of PG(2, 4) or the Lunelli–Sce hyperoval of PG(2, 16).     

Normal Spreads

In Dedicata 16 (1984), pp. 291–313, the representation of Desarguesian spreads of the projective space PG(2t – 1, q) into the Grassmannian of the subspaces of rank t of PG(2t – 1, q) has been studied. Using a similar idea, we prove here that a normal spread of PG(rt – 1,q) is represented on the Grassmannian of the subspaces of rank t of PG(rt – 1, q) by a cap V _{r, t} of PG(r ^t – 1, q), which is the GF(q)-scroll of a Segre variety product of t projective spaces of dimension (r – 1), and that the collineation group of PG(r ^t – 1, q) stabilizing V _{r, t} acts 2-transitively on V _{r, t} . In particular, we prove that V _{3, 2} is the union of q ² – q + 1 disjoint Veronese surfaces, and that a Hermitan curve of PG(2, q ²) is represented by a hyperplane section U of V _{3, 2}. For q 0,2 (mod 3) the algebraic variety U is the unitary ovoid of the hyperbolic quadric Q ⁺ (7, q) constructed by W. M. Kantor in Canad. J. Math., 5 (1982), 1195–1207. Finally we study a class of blocking sets, called linear, proving that many of the known examples of blocking sets are of this type, and we construct an example in PG(3, q ²). Moreover, a new example of minimal blocking set of the Desarguesian projective plane, which is linear, has been constructed by P. Polito and O. Polverino.     

Generalized Quadrangles with an Abelian Singer Group

In this note we characterize thick finite generalized quadrangles constructed from a generalized hyperoval as those admitting an abelian Singer group, i.e., an abelian group acting regularly on the points. S. De Winter: The first author is a Research Assistant of the Fund for Scientific Research—Flanders (Belgium). K. Thas: The second author is a Postdoctoral Fellow of the Fund for Scientific Research—Flanders (Belgium).     

Semi-Biplanes and Antiregular Generalied Quadrangles

A natural method to construct semi-biplanes from antiregular generalized quadrangles is introduced. Properties of the semi-biplanes constructed are discussed. In the finite case and in the topological case the semi-biplanes that arise bear a strong resemblance to semi-biplanes that arise in the natural way from projective planes admitting an involutory homology.     

Characterisations of Flock Quadrangles

We characterise the Hermitian and Kantor flock generalized quadrangles of order (q ²,q), q even, (associated with the linear and Fisher–Thas–Walker flocks of a quadratic cone, and the Desarguesian and Betten–Walker translation planes) in terms of a self-dual subquadrangle. Equivalently, we show that a herd which contains a translation oval must be associated with the linear or Fisher–Thas–Walker flock. This result is a consequence of the determination of all functions which satisfy a certain absolute trace equation whose form is remarkably similar to that of an equation arising in recent studies of ovoids in three-dimensional projective space of finite order q.     

A Theorem Concerning Nets Arising from Generalized Quadrangles with a Regular Point

Suppose is a generalized quadrangle (GQ) of order , with a regular point. Then there is a net which arises from this regular point. We prove that if such a net has a proper subnet with the same degree as the net, then it must be an affine plane of order t. Also, this affine plane induces a proper subquadrangle of order t containing the regular point, and we necessarily have that . This result has many applications, of which we give one example. Suppose is an elation generalized quadrangle (EGQ) of order , with elation point p. Then is called a skew translation generalized quadrangle (STGQ) with base-point p if there is a full group of symmetries about p of order t which is contained in the elation group. We show that a GQ of order s is an STGQ with base-point p if and only if p is an elation point which is regular.     

非线性扩散耦合系统的广义解的最优判据

This paper studies coupled nonlinear diffusion equations with more general nonlinearities, subject to homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. The necessary and sufficient conditions are obtained for the existence of generalized solutions of the system, which extend the known results for nonlinear diffusion systems with more special nonlinearities.     

Some New Upper Bounds for the Size of Partial Ovoids in Slim Generalized Polygons and Generalized Hexagon of Order (s, s3)

From an elementary observation, we derive some upper bounds for the number of mutually opposite points in the classical generalized polygons having 3 points on each line. In particular, it follows that the Ree-Tits generalized octagon O(2) of order (2, 4) has no ovoids. Also, we deduce from another observation a similar upper bound in any generalized hexagon of order (s, s ³).