Trialities and 1-systems of \(Q^{+}(7,q)\) (Q2486870)

Consider a quadric \({\mathcal Q}\in \{Q^-(5,q),Q(6,q),Q^+(7,q)\}.\) A \(1\)-system of \(\mathcal Q\) is a set \(\mathcal M\) of \(q^3+1\) lines of \(\mathcal Q\) with the property that every maximal subspace of \(\mathcal Q,\) which contains a line \(L\) of \(\mathcal M,\) is disjoint from all lines of \(\mathcal M\) different from \(L.\) The \(1\)-system \(\mathcal M\) is \textit{locally hermitian} at a line \(L\) if and only if for every line \(M\) of \(\mathcal M\) different from \(L,\) the regulus of the hyperbolic quadric \(\langle L, M\rangle \cap {\mathcal Q}\) containing \(L\) is completely contained in \(\mathcal M.\) The \(1\)-systems of \(Q^-(5,q)\) are the spreads of \(Q^-(5,q),\) and they are \(1\)-systems of \(Q(6,q).\) Moreover, \(1\)-systems of \(Q(6,q)\) are \(1\)-systems of \(Q^+(7,q).\) Let \(\mathcal M\) be a locally hermitian \(1\)-system at \(L.\) If \(x\) is a point of \(L,\) the set \({\mathcal O}_x\) of the \(q^2\) lines of \(\mathcal Q\) through \(x,\) which are transversals of one of the reguli of \(\mathcal M\) containing \(L,\) together with \(L\) define an ovoid of the polar space defined by the tangent cone to \(\mathcal Q\) at \(x.\) If \({\mathcal O}_x\) is the classical ovoid \(Q^-(3,q)\) for all points \(x\) of \(L,\) then \(\mathcal M\) is said \textit{semiclassical}. Denote by \(H(q)\) the split Cayley hexagon of order \(q\) whose points are the points of a non-singular quadric \(Q(6,q).\) Spreads of \(H(q)\) are \(1\)-systems of \(Q(6,q).\) Let \(\mathcal M\) be a \(1\)-system of \(Q^+(7,q)\) and let \(\tau\) be a triality map of \(Q^+(7,q).\) The authors prove that also \({\mathcal M}^{\tau}\) is a \(1\)-system of \(Q^+(7,q)\) and that \(\tau\) preserves the property of being locally hermitian. If \(\mathcal M\) is a \(1\)-system of \(Q^+(6,q)\subset Q^+(7,q),\) which is not a spread of \(H(q),\) then \({\mathcal M}^{\tau}\) is a proper \(1\)-system of \(Q(6,q).\) Moreove, the images under \(\tau\) of non-isomorphic locally hermitian semiclassical \(1\)-systems of a \(Q(6,q)\) on \(Q^+(7,q)\) are not isomorphic as well. Finally, a characterisation of the hermitian \(1\)-system has been found.