The Suzuki Simple Groups as Collineation Groups of Projective Planes

Antonio Maschietti
Dipartimento di Matematica, Universita La Sapienza, Roma, Italy email:maschiet@mat.uniroma1.it

2000 Mathematics Subject Classication: Primary 51A40; Secondary 51A50, 51A35, 05B25, 05E20 Keywords:L neburg plane, symplectic translation plane, Suzuki groups, u regular triple, completely regular oval

Abstract The Suzuki simple group Sz(q) can act as an automorphism group on the Tits ovoid in PG(3, q), on the L neburg plane of order q 2 , or on the Suzuki u Tits inversive plane of order q. These geometric structures are equivalent. In this paper the question whether a nonL neburg projective plane of even u 2 order q admits a collineation group isomorphic to Sz(q) is investigated. In view of known results that provide some knowledge on the possible planes that admit Sz(q) as a collineation group, this question can be treated in the more general context of the ovals which are twotransitive : determine which planes admit a collineation group G xing an oval O and acting doubly transitively on its points. The case where the plane has odd order n has been completely solved: the plane is desarguesian, G contains a subgroup isomorphic to PSL(2, n) and O is the pointset of an irreducible conic. In the present paper the even order case is treated and the following theorem is proved: Let be a projective plane of even order q = 2h and let G be a collineation group xing an oval and acting doubly transitively on its points. Then either the plane is the desarguesian plane PG(2, q), the oval is a conic and G contains a subgroup isomorphic to PSL(2, q), or else q = 22d , where d > 1 is odd, the plane is a dual L neburg plane and G contains a subgroup u isomorphic to the Suzuki simple group Sz( q).

Introduction

The Suzuki simple group Sz(q) (see [26] and [27]) is a subgroup of the linear group GL(4, q) of the 4 4 nonsingular matrices over the Galois eld GF (q) where q = 22e+1 with e 1. Indeed it is a subgroup of the symplectic group Sp(4, q), has order (q 2 + 1)q 2 (q 1) and can be represented faithfully as a doubly transitive permutation group on q 2 +1 letters such that the identity is the only element leaving three distinct letters xed. Known representations of Sz(q) as an automorphism group of geometric structures comprise (1) the Tits ovoid in the projective geometry PG(3, q) ([7], [18]); (2) the L neburg plane of order q 2 ([18]); and u (3) the SuzukiTits inversive plane of order q ([7, Chapter 6]). These structures are equivalent, in the sense that, up to isomorphisms, each of them determines the others ([7, Chapter 6]). An account on the geometries belonging to the Suzuki simple groups can be found in [18, Chapter IV]. In this article we are interested in the following question: Can Sz(q) act as a collineation group of a projective plane of order q 2 , which is not a L neburg u plane or its dual? This question arises from the following theorem (see [18, Theorem 28.11]). Theorem 1.1 Let be a projective plane of order q 2 , where q = 22e+1 with e 1, and let G be a collineation group of isomorphic to Sz(q). Then one of the following possibilities holds. (a) G xes a nonincident point line pair (P, ) of and G acts doubly transitively on the set of lines throught P as well on the set of points of . Moreover, G has two further nontrivial point orbits of length (q 2 + 1)(q 1) and two further line orbits of length (q 2 + 1)q(q 1). (b) G xes an oval O and its nucleus N and acts doubly transitively on the set of lines through N as well on the set of points of O. It also acts transitively on the set of secant lines to O and splits the set of exterior lines to O into two orbits of length 1 (q r + 1)q 2 (q 1) and 4 1 (q + r + 1)q 2 (q 1) respectively, where r 2 = 2q. Furthermore G has 4 two point orbits of length (q 2 +1)(q 1) and (q 2 +1)q(q 1) respectively. (c) The dual to (b). 3

All the three cases really occur. The cases (a) and (c) hold in the L neburg planes ([18, Chapter IV], [10], [13], [22]). We will prove that the u case (b) of the foregoing theorem occurs only in the dual L neburg planes, u and so the case (c) occurs only in the L neburg planes. We will treat this u case in the context of the more general problem concerning the twotransitive ovals. Let be a projective plane of order n. An oval in is a set of n+1 points, no three of which are collinear. When = PG(2, n) is the desarguesian plane of order n = ph with p a prime, the pointset of an irreducible conic provides an example of oval. A famous theorem of B. Segre (see [24] and [25]) states that if n is odd, then any oval in PG(2, n) is the pointset of an irreducible conic. In case n is even, such a simple characterization of ovals does not hold, and the problem of classifying ovals in PG(2, n) appears to be very dicult. For the theory of ovals the reader is referred to [8] and to the survey paper [15]. It is well known that the collineation group of PG(2, n) xing an irreducible conic is isomorphic to PL(2, n) and acts on the pointset of the conic as PL(2, n) in its natural 3transitive permutation representation. A remarkable characterization of nite desarguesian planes in terms of collineation groups acting on ovals is due to L neburg [17] and [18]: If a u projective plane of order n = ph , where p is a prime, admits an oval O and a collineation group G isomorphic to PSL(2, n) and xing O, then the plane is desarguesian, the oval is the pointset of an irreducible conic and G acts on O as PSL(2, q) in its natural 2transitive permutation representation. It is then quite natural to ask what happens if a projective plane of order n admits a collineation group G xing an oval O and acting 2transitively on its points. Such an oval is called twotransitive. This problem can be considered as an attempt to generalize a result of Ostrom and Wagner, known as the OstromWagner theorem [23]: Let be a nite projective plane and G be a 2transitive collineation group. Then PG(2, q) and G contains = a subgroup isomorphic to PSL(3, q). The rst answer to this problem, in the case of odd order, is due to Cofman [6]: Let be a projective plane of odd order and let O be an oval. If admits a collineation group G xing O and acting on the points of O as a 2transitive permutation group and if every element of order 2 of G is a central collineation, then n is a prime power, the plane is desarguesian and O is an irreducible conic. Moreover, G is isomorphic to a subgroup of PL(2, n) and contains a subgroup H PSL(2, n) acting on O as PSL(2, n) = 4

in its natural 2transitive permutation representation. Later Kantor [9] proved that the condition on the elements of order 2 could be weakened by requiring only that G contains some nonidentical central collineation. Finally in 1986 Biliotti and Korchmaros [2] gave a strong generalization of the foregoing results by requiring only the primitivity of G. Theorem 1.2 Let G be a collineation group of a projective plane of odd order n xing an oval O. If G acts on O as a primitive permutation group, then n is a power of a prime p, is the desarguesian plane PG(2, n) and O is a conic. Moreover, only one of the following cases holds. 1. G is isomorphic to a subgroup of PL(2, n) and contains a subgroup H PSL(2, n) acting on O as PSL(2, n) in its natural 2transitive = permutation representation. 2. n = 9, G PSL(2, 5) or G PGL(2, 5) and G acts on O as PSL(2, 5) = = or PGL(2, 5) in its natural primitive permutation representation on 10 objects. In conclusion, in case of odd order, the problem of the twotransitive ovals admits only the classical solution, which is case 1 in the foregoing theorem. In case n is even the situation is more complicated. In view of [3], [4] and [15] there are the following possibilities. Theorem 1.3 Let be a projective plane of even order n and let O be an oval. If G is a collineation group of xing O and acting 2transitively on its points, then the group G contains nontrivial elations. If is the set of all involutory elations of G and if H is the subgroup generated by , then exactly one of the following cases holds. (A) || = n+1 and H is the semidirect product of a group of odd order n+1 with a group of order two. Moreover, H is transitive on the points of O, xes an exterior line to O and G does not contain Baer involutions. (B) n = 2h , H is isomorphic to PSL(2, n) and acts on O as PSL(2, n) in its natural 3transitive permutation representation. Therefore, is the desarguesian plane PG(2, n) and O is the pointset of a nondegenerate conic. (C) n = q 2 , where q = 2d and d 3 is odd, H = Sz(q) and H acts on O as Sz(q) in its natural 2transitive permutation representation. Moreover, is a nondesarguesian plane of order q 2 . 5

All the three cases occur. Apart from the trivial case n = 2, the only known example for case (A) is n = 4. It is conjectured that indeed case (A) for n > 4 cannot happen. The conjecture has been shown true for all projective planes of order a power of 2 (see [14] and [15]). Case (A) is particularly investigated in [4] and [5] where it is proved that either n {2, 4} or n 0 mod 8, the Sylow 2subgroups of G are generalized quaternion groups and G acts as a subgroup of AL(1, q) in its natural permutation representation. Case (C) occurs in the dual L neburg plane of order q 2 = 22r (see [10], u [13], [22]). It is one of the main aims of this paper to prove that indeed case (C) holds only in dual L neburg planes. We will prove this result using the u concept of regular triple (see [19], [20], [22]), some new results on ovals with a strongly regular tangent line, and a characterization of symplectic translation planes of even order. For the sake of completeness, in Sections 2 and 3 we briey report on regular triples and ovals admitting a strongly regular tangent line, where also new results are proved. Sections 4 and 5 deal with completely regular ovals. There we prove that a projective plane of even order n admits a completely regular oval if and only if is a dual symplectic translation plane. As a consequence, the results of [22] are improved. Finally, in Section 6, as an application of the results of previous sections and using a characterization of L neburg planes due to Liebler (see [16] and u [18]), we prove that case (C) can occur only in dual L neburg planes. So, u at least for projective planes whose order is a power of 2, the problem of the twotransitive ovals is completely solved also in the even order case. As a concluding remark, we note that the proof of the OstromWagner theorem uses little of group theory, nothing more than elementary facts about Sylow subgroups of permutations groups. On the other hand, the results of [2], [3], [6] and [9] heavily rely on the classication concerning nite simple groups and permutation groups. Our results use a direct approach and ad hoc geometric methods.

Regular triples

Let be a projective plane of even order n. If is a line of , then the same symbol will denote also the set of points that are incident with . Therefore 6

we write P Q to denote the unique line of incident with the two distinct points P and Q. If and m are distinct lines of , then m is the unique point that the two lines have in common. Finally, if is a line of , the ane plane whose line at innity is will be denoted by . Let O be an oval in . If P is any point not in O, then on P there is one tangent line, n/2 secant lines and n/2 exterior lines. So O has n + 1 tangent lines and these lines all meet in the point N, called the nucleus (or also, the knot) of O. The set O {N} is usually called a hyperoval. Finally, O has n(n + 1)/2 secant lines and n(n 1)/2 exterior lines. Let P be the set of all points of which are not in O {N}. Denition 2.1 An unordered triple {X, Y, Z} of distinct points of P is called regular if for every point P of P \ {X, Y, Z} at least one of the lines P X, P Y , P Z is a secant or a tangent line to O.
SP = {Q P | Q = P and P Q is a secant or a tangent line} {P } ;

For P P let

EP = {Q P | Q = P and P Q is an exterior line} .

Clearly, the triple {X, Y, Z} is regular if and only if EX EY EZ = .

Theorem 2.1 (1) The incidence structure H(O) whose set of points is P and whose set of blocks is {SP | P P} is a symmetric Hadamard design with parameters v = n2 1 , k = n2 n2 1, = 1 2 4

admitting the null polarity P SP . (2) {X, Y, Z} is a regular triple (for O) if and only if {X, Y, Z} is a line of H(O). (3) For every pair of distinct points X and Y of P there is a third point Z such that {X, Y, Z} is regular if and only if n = 4. In this case H(O) is isomorphic to the 2design of points and planes of PG(3, 2). (4) If {X, Y, Z} is a regular triple and n > 4, then all the three points X, Y and Z are on the same tangent line to O.

SP = {Q P | Q = P and P Q is a secant line}. 7

The proof can be found in [19]. Because of item (3) above, from now on we assume that the order n of the plane is greater than or equal to 8. For P P let

Lemma 2.1 Let {X, Y, Z} be distinct points on the tangent line s to O and distinct from N and s O. The following propositions are equivalent. (1) {X, Y, Z} is a regular triple. (2) SX SY = SX SZ = SY SZ . Proof: Statements (2) and (3) are clearly equivalent. (1) = (3): From the regularity of {X, Y, Z} il follows whence As so, using (2.1), (3) SX SY SZ .

EX EY SZ , EX EZ SY , EY EZ SX ; EX EZ = SY EX , EY EZ = SX EY . (2.1)

SZ = (SZ EX EY ) (SZ SX EY ) (SZ EX SY ) (SZ SX SY ) SZ = (EX EY ) (SZ SX SY ) ,

since SZ EZ = . Now, |SZ | = (n2 /2) n, |EX EY | = n2 /4, |SX SY | = (n2 /4) n. Therefore |SZ SX SY | = (n2 /4) n

and so SZ SX SY = SX SY , that is to say SX SY SZ . (3) = (1). Assume that P X and P Y are both exterior lines, some P P \ s. As above Using statement (2), which is equivalent to (3), A comparison of sizes gives

SZ = (SZ EX EY ) (SZ SX EY ) (SZ EX SY ) (SZ SX SY ) . SZ = (SX SY ) (SZ EX EY ) . SZ = (SX SY ) (EX EY ) ,

which means that P Z is a secant line.

Remark 2.1 From the above lemma it follows that if {X, Y, Z} is a regular triple and P X is an exterior line, then one of the lines P Y or P Z is also exterior. In particular, if P X and P Y are both secant lines, then also P Z is secant. 8

Ovals with a strongly regular tangent line

Let be a projective plane of even order n 8, and let O be an oval with nucleus N. As before, P is the set of points of that are not in O {N}. We use the following standard notation: if A is a nite set, then |A| is the number of elements of A. Denition 3.1 A tangent line s to O is called strongly regular if for every pair of distinct points X, Y s P there is a third point Z s P such that the triple {X, Y, Z} is regular. If O admits a strongly regular tangent line s, then we say that O is sregular. Translation ovals with axis s are examples of sregular ovals (see [20]). For the rest of the section we assume that O is an sregular oval, and put s O = {O}. Theorem 3.1 The set of points Vs = s \ {N} can be given the structure of a vector space over GF (2) dening for every X, Y Vs X +O =O+X =X X + X = O, and X + Y = Z, if X = O, Y = O, X = Y and {X, Y, Z} is a regular triple for O. The proof can be found in [20]. In particular, if dim(Vs ) = d, then the order of the plane is n = 2d = q, where d 3. The hyperplanes of Vs are its additive subgroups of order q/2 and can be recovered from the sets SP , P P, introduced just before Lemma 2.1. We denote by PG(Vs ) the projective geometry dened by the vector space Vs . Lemma 3.1 Let P P \ s. Then SP s is the set of points of a hyperplane of PG(Vs ). Proof: P is on q/2 secant lines to O, one of which is P O. Therefore |SP s| = (q/2) 1. So it is enough to prove that (SP s) {O} is an additive subgroup of Vs . Let X = O and Y = O be two distinct points of SP s. Then X + Y SP s, since the triple {X, Y, X + Y } is regular. 9

Corollary 3.1 For all P, Q P\s, if SP s = SQ s, then (SP SQ s){O} is a proper additive subgroup of (SP s) {O} and |SP SQ s| = q 1. 4

Our next goal is to prove that every hyperplane of PG(Vs ) is of type SP s, some P P \ s, and to determine all the points Q P \ s such that SP s = SQ s. Lemma 3.2 Let P P \ s. Then on each line r through P , where r = P O and r = P N, there is exactly one point Q = P such that SP s = SQ s . Proof: Let r = {Q r | Q = P, Q = r s, Q O} . Then |r | = q 1 / if r is an exterior line to O, while |r | = q 3 if r is a secant line. Let hP,Q = |SP SQ s|, where Q r . Then 2 q 2 1 if r is exterior hP,Q = q2 3q Qr 2 + 3 if r is secant 4 1. |(Z, )| = q/2 1 if r is an exterior line; or 2. |(Z, )| = q 3 if Z = r s q/2 3 if Z = r s , if r is a secant line.

To prove the above identities we count in two dierent ways the pairs (Z, Q) in (SP s) r such that the line ZQ is secant. We have either

whence the required identities.

(Here, (Z, ) is the subset of all pairs of (SP s) r whose rst component is xed and equal to Z; a similar meaning has (, Q).) On the other way for every Q r it is |(, Q)| = hP,Q . Therefore q q 2 1 2 1 if r is exterior hP,Q = |(Z, )| = q q ZSP s Qr q 3 + 2 2 2 3 if r is secant ; 10

Let now k be the number of points Q r such that SP s = SQ s. From the above identities and Corollary 3.1, if r is exterior, then hP,Q = (q/2 1)2 = k(q/2 1) + (q 1 k)(q/4 1) ;

Qr

hence k = 1; if r is secant (and r = P O), then hP,Q = q 2 /4 3q/2 + 3 = k(q/2 1) + (q 3 k)(q/4 1) ;

Qr

hence k = 1. Remark 3.1 A similar argument as that used during the proof of the foregoing lemma proves that on the line P N there is no point Q = P such that SP s = SQ s. Let be the following equivalence relation on the set P \ s: P Q if SP s = SQ s .

From the above lemma and remark, each equivalence class contains q points any three of which are never collinear, and there are q 1 equivalence classes. Therefore each equivalence class plus the point O is an oval with nucleus N having in common with O only the point O. Theorem 3.2 (see also [21]) Let be a projective plane of even order n 8, and let O be an oval with nucleus N. Assume that O is sregular and put s O = {O}. Then n = 2d = q, with d 3, and there exist q 1 other ovals O1 ,. . . , Oq1 , all with nucleus N and intersecting O only in O, such that 1. Oi Oj = {O}, for all i, j = 1, . . . , q 1 with i = j; 2. {O, O1 , . . . , Oq1 } is a partition of the set of points of the ane plane s ; and 3. P, Q Oi , i = 1, . . . , q 1, if and only if SP s = SQ s. We call the set of ovals {O, O1 , . . . , Oq1 } the spartition (relative to O). The following lemma gives a characterization of the ovals belonging to the spartition. 11

Lemma 3.3 Let O be an sregular oval. Let O be an oval with nucleus N such that O O = {O}. Then O belongs to the spartition (relative to O) if and only if O veries the following condition: (R) for every Z s \ {O, N}, a nontangent line m on Z meets O \ {O} and O \ {O} if and only if O \ {O} SZ . Proof: Assume that O is an oval of the spartition. If m is any line on Z s \ {O, N} such that m (O \ {O}) = and m (O \ {O}) = , let P m(O\{O}). Because of property 3 of Theorem 3.2, then SP s = SQ s for all Q O \ {O}. As Z is in SP s = SQ s for every Q O \ {O}, so Q SZ for every Q O \ {O} (using the polarity of H(O)). Therefore O \ {O} SZ . The foregoing argument can be easily reversed to prove that if O veries condition (R), then SP s = SQ s for all P, Q O \ {O}; whence O belongs to the spartition. Remark 3.2 More generally we can prove that if K is a subset of P such that SP s = SQ s for all P, Q K \ s and if m is a line on Z s \ {O, N} meeting K \ {O} and O \ {O}, then (K \ s) SZ . Proposition 3.1 Every oval O belonging to the spartition (relative to O) is sregular and has (on s) the same regular triples as O. Proof: Assume that {X, Y, Z} s is a regular triple for O. Let P P \ s such that P X and P Y are both exterior lines to O. Case 1: P X and P Y are both secant lines to O. Then P Z also is a secant line to O and EX EY SZ . From Lemma 3.3 O EX EY SZ ; hence, again from Lemma 3.3, P Z must be a secant line to O. Case 2: P X and P Y are both exterior lines to O. Then P Z is a secant line to O and, from Lemma 3.3, O EX EY SZ . We need the following characterization of hyperovals, whose proof can be found in [22]. 12

Proposition 3.2 Let be a set of n + 2 points in a projective plane of even order n, and let t0 be the number of lines of the plane that do not intersect . Then is a hyperoval if and only if t0 n(n 1)/2. We give now new characterizations of sregular ovals. Theorem 3.3 Let O be an oval in a projective plane of even order n and let s be a tangent line to O. Let P denote the set of points of that are not in O {N}. Put s O = {O}, and dene the following equivalence relation on P \ s: P Q if SP s = SQ s . Let 1 , . . . , b be the equivalence classes. Then O is sregular if and only if |i | = n for all i = 1, . . . , b. Proof: If O is sregular, then each i has n points, because of Theorem 3.2. Conversely, assume that |i | = n for all i = 1, . . . , b. First of all we prove that each i {O, N} is a hyperoval. Let P i and let SP s = {X1 , . . . , Xn/21 } . If t0 is the number of lines of the plane that do not intersect i {O, N}, then we claim that t0 n(n 1) . 2

For the proof we use Remark 3.2 to note that among the lines not intersecting i {O, N} there are the exterior lines to O passing through Xi , i = 1, . . . , n/21, and the secant lines to O on the points of s\[(SP s){N}]; whence n n n n n(n 1) t0 ( 1) + = 2 2 2 2 2 and so, because of Proposition 3.2, i {O, N} is a hyperoval. Let now X and Y be distinct points of s \ {O, N}. Consider the subset EX EY of P. Then EX EY is the union of some equivalences classes, say EX EY = 1 k , some k 1. Therefore |EX EY | = hence 4 divides n and k = n/4. 13 n2 = kn ; 4

For Z s \ {O, N, X, Y }, let m be an exterior line to O passing through Z. Assume that m meets EX EY . Then m meets a certain number of the classes 1 , . . . , k ; say a this number. Because of Remark 3.2 every exterior line to O on Z meets the same classes as m. Similarly, if a secant line to O on Z meets c of the classes 1 , . . . , k , then every secant line on Z meets the same classes. Therefore every exterior (resp., secant) line on Z meets EX EY in 2a (resp., 2c) points. Clearly, every line on O (resp., N) meets EX EY in n/4 points. So the hypoteses of Theorem 4 in [20] are fullled, and we can conclude that there is a point Z in s \ {O, N, X, Y } such that the triple {X, Y, Z} is regular. As X and Y are arbitrary, so O is sregular. Corollary 3.2 Let O be an oval with nucleus N in a projective plane of order n 0 mod 4. Let s be a tangent line to O. Then O is sregular if and only if, for every pair of points P, Q not in O{N} either SP s = SQ s or |SP SQ s| = (n/4) 1. The proof is an easy consequence of the above theorem and Lemma 3.2.

Completely regular ovals

In this section we consider an oval O that is sregular for every tangent line s. We call such an oval completely regular. Any dual symplectic translation plane of even order admits a completely regular oval (see [22]). In particular, any desarguesian plane admits completely regular ovals, and these are precisily the conics (see [21]). The main goal of this section is to prove that every oval of the spartition (relative to O) is itself completely regular. We modify slightly notation: if u is a tangent line and P P \ u, then SP u will denote a hyperplane of Vu , that is, we assume that SP u contains also the point u O. Lemma 4.1 For every tangent line u and every point P O u it is / SP u , if P Q is Osecant; or (SP u) + Q = (EP u) , if P Q is Oexterior 14

where EP u is the complement of SP u in Vu and Q is any point of u\{N}.

Proof: The proof is straightforward, since SP u is a hyperplane of Vu (according to the modication of notation. Here symbol + refers to the addition of Vu dened by the strongly regular tangent line u). Remark 4.1 We say that the line is Osecant (or Oexterior) to mean that is a secant (or an exterior) line to O. Fix a tangent line s and let O be any oval of the spartition relative to O. Symbol S P will have for O the same meaning as SP has for O. Let s O = {O}. Lemma 4.2 For every point P O s either SP S P s = {O} or SP s = / S P s . In other words, SP s = S P s if and only if SP S P s contains a point distinct from O. Moreover, if SP S P s = {O}, then there is exactly one point R on s such that the line P R is O as well Oexterior and (S P s) \ {O} = (EP s) \ {R} . Proof: Write SP s = (SP S P s) (SP E P s) (4.1)

where E P s is the complement (in s\{N}) of S P s. Identity (4.1) represents a partition of SP s. Let SP S P s = {O}. First of all note that SP S P s is a subspace of SP s, since O and O have the same regular triples on s and because of Lemma 2.1. So |SP S P s| = 2h , where 1 h d 1. Moreover, using the same argument, if X and Y are distinct points of SP E P s, then X + Y SP S P s. Let X be a point of SP S P s. Denote by 2 (X) (resp., 2 (X)) the family of 2subspaces of SP s (resp., SP S P s) containing X. Then |2 (X)| = 2d1 1 and |2 (X)| = 2h1 1 . So |2 (X) \ 2 (X)| = 2d1 2h1 . Now the family {2 (X) \ 2 (X)}XSP S P s corresponds bijectively with the 2subsets contained in SP E P s. For, if S 2 (X) \ 2(X) then S meets SP E P s in two distinct points. Conversely, if {X, Y } SP E P s, 15

then X + Y SP S P s and {O, X, Y, X + Y } is an element of 2 (X + Y ) \ 2 (X + Y ). Therefore the number of 2subsets of SP E P s equals 2h (2d2 2h1 ), and so (2d1 2h )(2d1 2h 1) = 2h (2d2 2h1 ) . 2 After an easy calculation we get As (3 2h + 1) = 2h + (2h+1 + 1), so 2d1 = 2h (since 2d1 = 2h+1 + 1 is clearly absurd). Hence h = d 1, that is to say SP s = S P s. As for the last assertion of the lemma, if SP S P s = {O}, then (S P s) \ {O} is contained in EP s. A size count gives that there is exactly one point R s such that P R is O as well Oexterior. Therefore (S P s) \ {O} = (EP s) \ {R} . Lemma 4.3 Let u = s be a tangent line to O. Let O u = {Ou } and P any point not in O u s. Put O = P O u. Then either one of the following cases holds: 1. P Ou is Osecant and SP u = S P u; or 2. P Ou is Oexterior, there is exactly one point R u such that P R is O as well Oexterior and (S P u) \ {O} = (EP u) \ {R} . Proof: Assume that P Ou is Osecant. Since SP S P s contains P Ou s, then from Lemma 4.2 it follows SP s = S P s. By projection from P onto u of SP s and S P s and using Lemma 4.1, we get SP u = S P u. Assume now that P Ou is Oexterior. Then from Lemma 4.2 (S P s) \ {O} = (EP s) \ {R} . As above, by projection from P onto u we get (S P u) \ {O} = (EP u) \ {R} , where R = P R u. We are now in position to prove the following theorem. 16 (2d1 )2 (3 2h + 1)2d1 + 2h (2h+1 + 1) = 0 .

Theorem 4.1 Let O be a completely regular oval and let O be an oval of the spartition. Then the following propositions hold. 1. For every tangent line u, letting O u = {Ou }, the triple {X, Y, Z} u is regular for O if and only if the triple {X + Ou , Y + Ou , Z + O u } is regular for O, where + denotes addition in Vu dened by the strongly regular tangent line u and relative to O. 2. O is a completely regular oval. 3. The spartition relative to O coincides with that relative to O. Proof: We have to prove only item 1, since the others easily follow, taking into account of what precedes. So let {X, Y, Z} u be a regular triple for O. We have to prove that for every point P not in O u at least one of the lines joining P with X + Ou or Y + Ou or Z + Ou is Osecant. Case 1: P O O u s. / If P Ou is Osecant, then from Lemma 4.3 SP u = S P u . At least one of the points X, Y or Z is in SP u (because of Lemma 2.1). Let X SP u. From the remark just after Lemma 2.1, as the triple {X, Ou , X + Ou } is regular for O and the lines P Ou and P X are both Osecant, so X + Ou SP s = S P u. If P Ou is Oexterior, then from Lemma 4.3 (S P u) \ {O} = (EP u) \ {R} . From Lemma 4.1 (SP u) + Ou = EP u . So (S P u) \ {O} = [(SP u) + Ou ] \ {R} . Then at least one of the points X + Ou , Y + Ou or Z + Ou is distinct from R and so at least one of them is in S P u (note that none of them can coincide with O). Case 2: P s. Let P Ou be Osecant. From condition (R) every Osecant on P is also Osecant. If the three lines joining P with X + O u , P with Y + Ou and 17

P with Z + Ou were all Oexterior, then they would be also Oexterior, and so the three lines P X, P Y and P Z would be all Oexterior; this is a contradiction, since {X, Y, Z} is a regular triple for O. Let now P Ou be Oexterior. Then again from condition (R), every Oexterior line on P is Osecant. Since at least one of the lines P X, P Y or P Z is Osecant, then at least one of the lines joining P with X + Ou , P with Y + Ou and P with Z + Ou is Oexterior, and so that line is Osecant. Case 3: P O \ {O, Ou }, where {Ou } = O u. Put X + Ou = X, Y + Ou = Y , Z + Ou = Z. We claim that the lines P X, P Y and P Z are all Osecant. By way of contradiction, let A = P X s and assume that AX = P X is Oexterior. As A s \ {O}, so from condition (R) all the Osecant lines on A are Oexterior. From case 2, at least one of the lines AX, AY or AZ is Osecant. Let AY be Osecant. Then AY is Oexterior. Let P = P N O and let Q be one of the points of AY O. Since O belongs to the spartition relative to O, then SP s = SQ s . As A SQ s, so P A is Osecant; hence P A is Oexterior; this is clearly absurd, since P O.

The projective plane (O)

We continue to denote by a projective plane of even order q = 2d with d 3, and by O a completely regular oval with nucleus N. Let s0 , s1 , . . . , sq be the strongly regular tangent lines to O. The sj partition (relative to O) (j) (j) will be denoted by {O, O1 , . . . , Oq1 } . We dene the following incidence structure (O): the set of points of (O) is the set of points of ; the set of lines of () consists of (i) the tangent lines s0 , . . . , sq ; (ii) the ovals Oi , j = 0, 1, . . . , q, i = 1, 2, . . . , q 1; and (iii) the oval O; incidence is the settheoretic inclusion. 18
(j)

Theorem 5.1 (O) is a projective plane of order q. Proof: (O) has q 2 + q + 1 points and q 2 + q + 1 lines. Every line is incident with q + 1 points. Thus it remains to prove that any two distinct points P and Q are incident with one line. This is true if one of P or Q is in O or P and Q are both on sj , some j = 0, 1, . . . , q. Therefore we consider the case where P and Q are not collinear with N and P, Q O. / Let NP Q be the number of lines of (O) incident with P and Q. We show that NP Q 1. Let h = NP Q . Without loss of generality we may assume that (j) the lines containing P and Q are O1 for j = 0, . . . , h 1 and that P N = sh and QN = sh+1 . Then
|SP

SQ |

q2 = 1 = 4

h+1 |SP

i=0

SQ

si | +

k=h+1

|SP SQ sk | .

Now |SP SQ si | = (q/2) 1 for i = 0, . . . , h + 1, while |SP SQ sk | = (q/4) 1 for k = h + 2, . . . , q. Therefore from the above identity we get

q2 q q 1 = (h + 2)( 1) + (q h 2)( 1) 4 2 4 hence h = 1. So there is at most one line of (O) containing P and Q. (j) Now we count in two ways the number of ordered triples (P, Q, Oi ) such that P = Q, P and Q are not in O, the points P , Q and N are not collinear (j) and P and Q belong to Oi . We get
(P,Q)

NP Q = (q 2 1)q(q 1) ,

and this number equals the number of pairs (P, Q) such that P = Q, P, Q O / and P, Q, N not collinear. Hence there is exactly one line of (O) incident with P and Q. We proceed now to prove that (O) is (N, N)transitive, that is, for every pair of points P and Q collinear with N, and distinct from N, there is an elation with centre N mapping P to Q. We x the following notation: 19

FN = {s0 , s1 , . . . , sq } Vj = Vs j Bj = {O, O1 , . . . , Oq1 }, j = 0, . . . , q si O = {Oi } = si Ok , k = 1, . . . , q 1 Let us dene the following involutory permutations on the pointset of (i) (O). For every si FN , we dene the permutation j as the identity on the pointset of si , while if P sk and k = i, then P j = P + Okj , where + denotes the addition on Vk (dened by O and sk ). In other words (i) (i) we require that the triple {Okj , P, P + Okj } contained in sk is regular (for O). (i) (i) (i) From this denition it follows that Oj = Oj , where Oj is the image (i) of O under j . In (O) the line joining P to Q will be denoted by P Q (it is an oval in ). Lemma 5.1 In (O), given si , sj and sk , with sj and sk distinct from si , the projection from Oi of sj onto sk is an isomorphism of Vj onto Vk . Proof: It is sucient to prove that if {X, Y, Z} sj is a regular triple, then {X, Y , Z} sk is a regular triple, where X = Oi X sk , Y = Oi Y sk and Z = Oi Z sk . Note that Oi X, Oi Y and Oi Z belong to the si partition. Let W sk such that {X, Y , W } is a regular triple. We have SX s i = SX s i , SY s i = SY s i , SZ s i = SZ s i and since {X, Y, Z} is regular. Moreover, SX si , SY si and SZ si are the only hyperplanes of Vi whose intersection is SX SY si = SX SY si . As SX si , SY si and SW si meet in SX SX s i = SX SY s i , then W = Z. 20 SX SY s i = SX SZ s i = SY SZ s i
(i)

(j)

(j)

(i)

si Ok = {Oik }, i, j = 0, . . . , q, k = 1, . . . , q 1, and i = j

(j)

(j)

(i)

Lemma 5.2 (1) Every permutation j , j = 1, . . . , q 1, is also a permu(i) tation of Bi and if P Ok , then P j (Ok )j . (2) T (si ) = {1, 1 , 2 , . . . , q1 } is an elementary abelian 2group. Proof: Statement (1) follows from the denition of j and from the foregoing lemma. As for the proof of statement (2), we have for all P sk \ {N} P j
(i) (i) h (i)

(i)

(i)

(i)

(i)

(i)

(i)

(i)

= (P + Ojk )h = P + Ojk + Ohk = (P + Ohk ) + Ojk = P h

(i) (i)
(i) (i) j

(i)

(i)

(i)

(i)

It is easy to prove that T (si )T (sj ) is an abelian group (as a subgroup of the symmetric group acting on the pointset of (O)), since T (si ) and T (sj ) are elementwise permutable. Lemma 5.3 Let si and sj be distinct tangent lines to O. Then the group T (si )T (sj ) maps the ovals of Bi to the ovals of Bj preserving incidence. Proof: Let Oi Bi and Oj Bj . Then there is T (si ) such that Oi = O and there is T (sj ) such that Oj = O . Therefore (Oi ) = O = Oj , and = T (si )T (sj ). Let us consider now the abelian 2group (as a subgroup of the symmetric group acting on the pointset of (O))
q

G=
i=0

T (si ) .

Then G is a collineation group of (O). For G maps the set of points of (O) onto the set of points of (O), maps the set of lines of (O) (ovals in ) onto the set of lines of O (ovals in ) and preserves incidence, because 21

of the foregoing lemma. Moreover, G xes N and every line on N. Finally if P and Q are two points collinear with N, and distinct from N, then there is an element of G that maps P to Q. Therefore (O) is (N, N)transitive and G = q T (sk ). In conclusion we have the following theorem. k=0 Theorem 5.2 The plane (O) is (N, N)transitive and its group of elations with centre N is
q q

G=
i=0

T (si ) =
k=0

T (sk ) .

Our last goal of this section is to prove that is (N, N)transitive and that its group of elations with centre N is G. To this end we need the following construction, for which we are not able to give any reference. The particular case when the plane is desarguesian and the oval is a conic is in Kelly [12] (see also [1]). Theorem 5.3 Let be an (N, N)transitive projective plane of even order q = 2d , where d 3, and let be an oval with nucleus N. Let G be the group of all elations with centre N and s0 , s1 , . . . , sq be the tangent lines to . Then the incidence structure (; G) whose pointset is that of and whose lineset is {s0 , . . . , sq } {g | g G} is a projective plane of order q isomorphic to and admitting G as the group of elations with centre N. Proof: It is easy to prove that (; G) is a projective plane of order q. To prove that (; G) and are isomorphic we exhibit an explicit isomorphism. Fix two lines on N, say s0 and s1 . Let A = s0 and B = s1 . We dene the following mapping between points and lines of and points and lines of (; G). If is a line of , then = si , if = si , i = 0, 1, . . . , q, otherwise is the unique line of (; G) which is incident with the points s0 and s1 . Next we dene on the points. Let P and and m be any two distinct lines of on P . We put P = m . To prove that is an isomorphism it is sucient to show that the denition of P does not depend on the choise of and m. For this purpose it will suce to prove that the points N, P and P are collinear. Let L0 = s0 , L1 = s1 , M0 = m s0 , M1 = m s1 , = H, m = K. Then we consider the elation h of centre N and axis the line 22

NH which maps A to L0 (and thus B to L1 ) and the elation k of centre N and axis the line NK which maps B to M1 (and thus A to M0 ). Therefore = h and m = k (5.1)

kh Next we consider the elation kh. We have P kh = P , since M1 = L1 and kh M0 = L0 , and, using (5.1),

(P )kh = ( m )kh = h k

kh

= k h = P .

Hence P and P are incident with the axis of the elation kh, that is, the points N, P and P are collinear. Now we turn back to the projective plane and to the completely regular line oval O with nucleus N. We have shown that (O) is (N, N)transitive and that G = q T (sk ) is its group of all elations with centre N (see k=0 Theorem 5.2). We note that if is any nontangent line to O, then (as set of points) is an oval with nucleus N in (O). So, using the construction in Theorem 5.3, we get the projective plane (O)(; G). This plane is (N, N)transitive and admits G as its group of elations with centre N and O as an oval. Therefore xing two tangent lines, say s0 and s1 , and denoting by the isomorphism of (O) onto (O)(; G), as dened in Theorem 5.3, we have that = for all G . (5.2) In (O)(; G), for every point P distinct from N and not in O, dene as the set of points Q distinct from P and not in O {N} such that the line P Q (as a line of (O)(; G)) is a secant line to O. Consider in particular a secant line 0 to O. Assume that 0 meets O in the two points O0 = s0 O and O1 = s1 O and let 0 be the isomorphism between (O) and (O)(0 ; G) relative to s0 and s1 , as dened in Theorem 5.3. As remarked, O is an oval in (O)(0 ; G) and O0 = 0 (as sets of points).
() SP

Lemma 5.4 Let O, O1 , . . . , Oq/21 be the ovals of the sk partition, with k = 0, 1, having 0 as a common secant line. Then the following propositions hold. (1) The set {1, 1, . . . , q/21 } is a subgroup of T (sk ). (2) The lines 0 , 1 , . . . , 0 q/21 of (O)(0 ; G) are all the lines through 0 Ok 0 which are Osecant. 23

(3) S

(0 ) Ok 0 (0 ) Ok 0

= SO 0
k

(4) E

= EO0
k

Proof: (1) Let Ok 0 = 0 sk (by construction 0 sk is the image of Ok under 0 ). Let O0 , X1 , . . . , Xq/21 be the points where O, O1 , . . . , Oq/21 intersect s0 . From condition (R) of Lemma 3.3 the lines Ok 0 O0 , Ok 0 Xi , i = 1, . . . , q/2 1, (as lines of ) are all the secant lines to O passing through Ok 0 . Therefore

{O0 , X1 , . . . , Xq/21 } is a hyperplane of V0 , and so {1, 1 , . . . , q/21 } is a subgroup of T (sk ). (2) If were i O = , then (i O)i = ; that is, 0 Oi = ; this 0 0 is a contradiction. (3) From (2) we have S
(0 )
Ok 0

= (0 1 0 q/21 ) \ O . 0

As 0 O O1 Oq/21 , so i O O1 Oq/21 0 for all i = 1, . . . , q/2 1. Therefore S

(0 ) Ok 0

O1 Oq/21 .

A comparison of sizes gives S

(0 ) Ok 0

= O1 Oq/21 = SO0 .
k

(4) It is an immediate corollary of (3). Lemma 5.5 For every nontangent line of , the oval O is a completely regular oval in (O)(; G) and the spartition in (O)(; G) is the same as in . Therefore (O)(; G)(O) = (O) .

24

Proof: Let P a point distinct from N and not in O. Assume that P sk . From the construction of , from (5.2) and from the above lemma SP = SP easily follows. Now as P is arbitrary, so P is arbitrary. Thus for every point P distinct from N and not in O () SP = SP . Hence SP s = SP s
() ()

for every tangent line distinct from P N. From Theorem 3.3, O is completely regular in (O)(; G) and admits in (O)(; G) the same spartition as in . Moreover, (O)(; G) admits G as the group of all elations with centre N. The following lemma allows to determine completely regular ovals in (O). Lemma 5.6 Every nontangent line of is a completely regular oval in (O). The spartition (relative to ) is { | T (s)} . Proof: It is not restrictive to assume that is a secant line to O (otherwise, interchange O with O , some G, in such a way that is O secant). Let O0 = s0 , O1 = s1 and let be the isomorphism between (O) and (O)(; G) (relative to s0 and s1 ). Let {X, Y, Z} a regular triple for O contained in sk . Then we claim that {X , Y , Z } is a regular triple for contained in sk . For, if P X , P Y and P Z were all exterior, some point P , then P X, P Y and P Z would be all Oexterior (as lines of (O)(; G)). This is absurd, because of the preceding lemma. The group G acts on the set of points of . We want to prove that G acts also on the set of lines of , preserving incidence. First of all we note that for every nontangent line to O the incidence structure (; G) whose pointset is that of and whose lineset is {s0 , s1 , . . . , sq } { | G} 25

is a projective plane of order q admitting G as a group of elations with centre N. Moreover, by denition, (; G) = (O)(; G) . From Lemma 5.6 (; G) = (O)(; G) = (O)() and is a completely regular oval in (O). Therefore we will prove that is (N, N)transitive by showing that for all nontangent lines and m it is (O)() = (O)(m) . This last claim will be a consequence of the following lemma. Lemma 5.7 Let and m be nontangent lines to O. In the plane (O)() the oval m belongs to one of the partitions determined by as a completely regular oval. Proof: From Lemma 5.6 we know that and m are both completely regular ovals with nucleus N, as ovals in (O). Moreover, (O)() and (O)(m) admits the same group of elations with centre N; this group is G = q T (si ). i=0 From this easily follows that for every tangent line s the addition on Vs dened by (as a completely regular oval) is as follows. Let Os = s. Every point X Vs can be uniquely written as X = Os for a unique T (u), where u is any tangent line distinct from s. Then X + Y = Os + Os = Os . Therefore the triple {X, Y, Z} contained in s is regular for if and only if for every tangent line u = s there are , T (u) such that
X = Os , Y = Os and Z = Os , where Os = s .

A similar argument holds for m. It is now easy to prove that: for every tangent line u the triple {X, Y, Z} u is regular for if and only if the triple {X + Ou , Y + O u , Z + Ou } is regular for m, where Ou = m u. Proof: Let O = m and s = ON. Let {X, Y , Z} be a regular triple for m contained in u. Then there are , T (s) such that X = O u , Y = O u , Z = Ou ,

26

 where Ou = u. Let Ou = Ou , some T (s). Then X = Ou , Y = Ou , Z = Ou and the triple {Ou , Ou , Ou } is regular for . This argument can be reversed. Let O = m and put s = ON. For every point P not in {N} (resp., not in m {N}), denote by SP (resp., S P ) the set of points Q distinct from P and not in {N} (resp., not in m {N}) such that the line P Q of (O) (an oval in ) is secant (resp., msecant). Furthermore, for every tangent line u, denote by Vu (resp., V u ) the vector space dened by (resp., m) as a completely regular oval in (O). Let now Z be any point of s \ {O, N}. For every tangent line u = s the set SZ u is a hyperplane of Vu (relative to ) and S Z u is a hyperplane of V u (relative to m). From the above observation

S Z u = (SZ u) + Ou and (SZ u) + O u = SZ u if and only if the line ZOu (this is a line of (O), that is, an oval in ) is as well msecant. Therefore we have that if a line of (O) on Z is as well msecant, then any line of (O) on Z which is secant is also msecant. This is condition (R) in Lemma 3.3, which allows to conclude that m belongs to the spartition dened by . In conclusion we have proved the following theorem. Theorem 5.4 Let be a projective plane of even order n 8. Let O be a completely regular oval with nucleus N. Then 1. n = 2d = q, where d 3; 2. is (N, N)transitive and its group of all elations with centre N is G = q T (si ). i=0 We explicitily note that if is already (N, N)transitive and O is a completely regular oval with nucleus N, then the group G that O denes on coincides with the group that already admits. Therefore we obtain the following corollary.

27

Corollary 5.1 Let be an (N, N)transitive projective plane of even order q = 2d . Let O be a completely regular oval with nucleus N. Then for every tangent line s the spartition is {O | T (s)}. In particular if O and O are completely regular ovals, then O belongs to one of the partitions relative to O if and only O and O have in common exactly one point. We can use the above theorem in its dual form, so that from results of [22] we obtain a stronger version of Theorem 3 of [22]. Theorem 5.5 Let A be an ane plane of even order n 8 with as its line at innity. Then A admits a completely regular lineoval with (dual) nucleus if and only if A is a symplectic translation plane.

An application

In this section is a projective plane of even order q 2 , where q = 22d+1 with d 1, O is an oval with nucleus N and G is a collineation group of isomorphic to Sz(q) and acting 2transitively on the set of points of O. We will use some basic properties of the Suzuki simple group Sz(q), which can be found in [18, Chapter 4]. Let be a tangent line to O. Set O = {O}. There is a Sylow 2subgroup S of G that xes . The order of S is q 2 , S has q + 1 xed points on , two of which are O and N, and the other q 1 are the centres of the q 1 nontrivial elations with axis contained in S. These elations together with the identity constitute a subgroup of S, precisily the centre of S, which we denote by = {1, 1 , . . . , q1 }. The set of points on is split by S in q + 1 orbits of length 1 and q 1 orbits of length q. The set of points of the ane plane is split by S in q 2 orbits of length q 2 , one of which is O \ {O}. We denote by 1 , . . . , q2 1 the other q 2 1 pointorbits. S acts regularly on each of these orbits. Finally, the set of lines on N minus , which will be denoted by FN , is a complete lineorbit of S and S acts regularly on FN . Therefore each line of FN meets i in exactly one point, for i = 1, . . . , q 2 1. Theorem 6.1 O is a completely regular oval. Proof: Fix a tangent line . We prove that is strongly regular. Let O = {O} and let P denote the pointset of minus O. Let be the equivalence relation on P P Q if SP = SQ 28

where SP = {X \ {O, N} | P X is a secant line} . Let 1 , . . . , b be the equivalence classes. As above, S is the Sylow 2subgroup xing , = {1, 1 , . . . , q1 } the centre of S and 1 , . . . , q2 1 the pointorbits determined by S on P. Let be any of the classes i , i = 1, . . . , b. Lemma 6.1 xes . Proof: First of all note that (SP )h = SP h for all h S. Let P . Then SP = SP k for all k = 1, . . . , q 1, as k xes all the points on . Denote by S = {1, g1 , . . . , g2a 1 } the setwise stabilizer of , where 2a = |S |. Then S acts faithfully and semiregularly on . Its orbits are the subsets 1 , . . . , k , if = ( 1 ) ( k ). Therefore | 1 | = = | k | = 2a ; whence || = k2a . Since |S| = q 2 = 24d+2 and because of the above lemma, then 2d + 1 a 4d + 2. Let S/S denote the set of all right cosets of S in S. Then the index of S in S is [S : S ] = |S|/|S | = 24d+2a . Let h1 , . . . , h be distinct representatives of the cosets of (S/S ) \ S . Then + 1 = 24d+2a . Lemma 6.2 intersects the pointorbits 1 , . . . , k if and only if hj intersects the same orbits for every representative hj . The proof is straightforward. Let = (1 ) (k ). Let mi FN intersect i , i = 1, . . . , k. g a Then {mi , . . . , mi 2 1 } are all the lines in FN that intersect i , and each of them meets i in exactly one point. Assume that i k is the number of points of that are on mi and let t be the number of the lines m1 , . . . , mk which are distinct. Then
t

i = k
i=1

29

and Therefore t = k, and so i = 1 for all i = 1, . . . , k. Then any line of FN meets in at most one point. Now, S is transitive on FN . So there is ci S \ S such that mi = mci , 1 i = 2, . . . , k. As ci belongs to a right coset of S , so ci = hi gi , for some representative hi and some gi S . Therefore mi = mhi gi . 1 As all the elements hj , j = 1, . . . , , are involved, so k 1 = . We have proved part of the following lemma. Lemma 6.3 If = ( 1 ) ( k ), and mi , i = 1, . . . , k, is a line of FN that intersects i , then 1. the lines m1 , . . . , mk are all distinct; 2. mi = mhi , i = 2, . . . , , up to a reordering and an element of S ; 1 3. k = + 1; and 4. || = q 2 . Proof: The rst three items have been proved above. As for item 4, it is sucient to note that || = k2a = ( + 1)2a = q 2 . Now it is enough to apply Theorem 3.3 to conclude that O is regular. As the proof does not depend on the choice of , so O is a completely regular oval. From this theorem and the results of the preceding sections it follows that the plane is (N, N)transitive. Therefore the dual plane is a translation plane (with N as its line at innity) admitting a collineation group isomorphic to the Suzuki simple group Sz(q). By a theorem of Liebler (see [16] or [18]), is the L neburg plane of order q 2 . In conclusion u Theorem 6.2 Let be a projective plane of even order q 2 , where q = 22d+1 with d 1. Assume that admits a collineation group G isomorphic to the Suzuki simple group Sz(q) and an oval O on which G acts as a 2transitive permutation group. Then is the dual Lneburg plane of order q 2 . u 30 t2a = || = k2a .

For the sake of completeness we state also the dual form of the above theorem. Theorem 6.3 Let A be an ane plane of even order q 2 , where q = 22d+1 , with d > 1. Let be its line at innity. Then A is the Lneburg plane of u 2 order q if and only if it admits a collineation group G isomorphic to Sz(q) and a lineoval O with nucleus , such that G acts on the set of lines of O as a 2transitive permutation group. Theorem 6.3 is a new characterization of the L neburg planes. Theorem u 6.2 provides a complete answer to the problem of the twotransitive ovals, at least when the order of the plane is a power of 2. It remains open the case (A) of Theorem 1.3, and it seems evident that ad hoc geometric methods are needed for its solution. This is a recurrent theme after the classication of nite simple groups, as remarked by several authors (see for example Kantor [11]).

References
[1] E. F. Assmus, Jr. and J. D. Key, Translation planes and derivation sets. J. Geom. 37 (1990), 316 [2] M. Biliotti and G. Korchmaros, Collineation groups which are primitive on an oval of a projective plane of odd order. J. London Math. Soc. (2) 33 (1986), 525534 [3] M. Biliotti and G. Korchmaros, Collineation groups strongly irreducible on an oval. Ann. Discr. Math. 30 (1986), 8598 [4] A. Bonisoli and G. Korchmaros, On twotransitive ovals in projective planes of even order. Arch. Math. 65 (1995), 8993 [5] A. Bonisoli, On a theorem of Hering and twotransitive ovals with a xed external line. Mostly Finite Geometries (Iowa City, IA, 1996), Lecture Notes Pure Appl. Math., 190, Dekker, New York, 1997, 169183 [6] J. Cofman, Doubly transitivity in nite ane and projective planes. Proc. Proj. Geometry Conference, Univ. of Illinois, Chicago (1967), 16 19 31

[7] P. Dembowski, Finite Geometries. SpringerVerlag, Berlin Heidelberg New York, 1968 [8] J. W. P. Hirschfeld, Projective geometries over nite elds. Second edition. Oxford Mathematical Monographs. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1998 [9] W. M. Kantor, On Unitary polarities of nite projective planes. Canad. J. Math. 23 (1971), 10601077 [10] W. M. Kantor, Symplectic Groups, Symmetric Designs, and Line Ovals. J. Algebra 33 (1975), 4358 [11] W. M. Kantor, 2Transitive and agtransitive designs. Coding theory, design theory, group theory (Burlington, VT, 1990), 1330, Wiley Intersc. Publ., Wiley, New York, 1993 [12] G. Kelly, Symmetric designs with translation blocks. Geom. Dedicata 15 (1984), 233258 [13] G. Korchmaros, Le oval di linea del piano di L neburg dordine 22r che u possono venir mutate in s da un gruppo di collineazioni isomorfo al e r gruppo semplice Sz(2 ) di Suzuki. Atti Accad. Naz. Lincei Mem. Cl. Sci. Fis. Mat. Natur. Sez. Ia (8) 15 (1979), 295315 [14] G. Korchmaros, Collineation groups doubly transitive on the points at innity in an ane plane of order 2r . Arch. Math. 37 (1981), 572576 [15] G. Korchmaros, Old and new results on ovals of nite projective planes. Surveys in Combinatorics (Guildford 1991), 4172, London Math. Soc. Lecture Note Ser., 166, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1991 [16] R. A. Liebler, A characterization of L neburg planes. Math. Z. 126 u (1972), 8290 [17] H. L neburg, Charakterisierung der endlichen desarguesschen projecu tiven Ebenen. Math. Z. 85 (1964), 419450 [18] H. L neburg, Translation Planes. SpringerVerlag, BerlinNew York, u 1980

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[19] A. Maschietti, Hyperovals and Hadamard designs. J. Geom. 44 (1992), 107116 [20] A. Maschietti, Regular triples with respect to a hyperoval. Ars Combin. 39 (1995), 7588 [21] A. Maschietti, A characterization of translation hyperovals. European J. Combin. 18 (1997), 893899 [22] A. Maschietti, Symplectic translation planes and line ovals. Adv. Geom. 3 (2003), 123143 [23] T. G. Ostrom and A. Wagner, On projective and ane planes with transitive collineation groups. Math. Z. 71 (1959), 186199 [24] B. Segre, Sulle ovali nei piani lineari niti. Atti Accad. Naz. Lincei Rend. 17 (1954), 12 [25] B. Segre, Ovals in a nite projective plane. Canad. J. Math. 7 (1955), 414416 [26] M. Suzuki, A new type of simple groups of nite order. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 46 (1960), 868870 [27] M. Suzuki, On a class of doubly transitive groups. Ann. Math. 75 (1962), 105145

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