Projections of quadrics in finite projective spaces of odd characteristic (Q852438)

The authors extend the results of \textit{J. W. P. Hirschfeld} and \textit{J. A. Thas} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 22, 226--238 (1980; Zbl 0414.51004) and Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 41, 254--278 (1980; Zbl 0434.51011)]. Let \(Q_{n+1}\) be a nonsingular quadric in a finite projective space \(PG(n+ 1,q)\), \(n\geq 1\). Consider a point \(r\not\in Q_{n+ 1}\), distinct from its nucleus if \(n +1\) and \(q\) are even, and a hyperplane \(PG(n,q)\) not through \(r\). Let \(R_n\) be the projection of the quadratic \(Q_{n+1}\) from the point \(r\) on the hyperplane \(PG(n,q)\). A set \(K\) of points of \(PG(n,q)\) is said to be a set of class \([m_1,\dots, m_k]\), \(0\leq m_1<\cdots< m_k\leq q+ 1\), if for every line \(L\), \(|L\cap K|= m_i\) for some \(1\leq i\leq k\). It is said to be a set of type \((m_1,\dots, m_k)\) if every \(m_i\) actually occurs for some line \(L\). If \(q\) is even, \(R_n\) is a set of class \([1,{1\over 2} q+1,q+1]\) in \(PG(n, q)\). If \(q\) is odd, \(R_n\) is a set of class \([1,{1\over 2}(q+ 1),{1\over 2}(q +3),q+ 1]\) in \(PG(n,q)\). The purpose of this paper is to prove a characterization of \(R_n\) for odd \(q\). There are classified all sets of class \([1,{1\over 2}(q+ 1),{1\over 2}(q+ 3), q+1]\) in \(PG(n,q)\), \(n\geq 2\) and \(q> 7\) odd. The main results are given in the following theorem. Let \(k\) be a set of class \([1,{1\over 2}(q+1),{1\over 2}(q+3),q+ 1]\) in \(PG(n,q)\), \(n\geq 2\) and \(q> 7\) odd. Then one of the following cases occurs. 1. \(K= R_n\). 2. \(K\) is singular. Either \(K\) is the set of all points of \(PG(n,q)\), or \(K\) is a cone with vertex an \(m\)-space \(U\) of \(PG(n,q)\), \(0\leq m\leq n-2\), and base a nonsingular set of class \([1,{1\over 2}(q+ 1),{1\over 2}(q+ 3),q+ 1]\) is an \((n-m-1)\)-space \(V\) skew to \(U\). 3. \(K\) is quasi-singular. Then \(K\) consists of \({1\over 2}(q+ 1)\) hyperplanes through a common \((n- 2)\)-space \(U\) and a nonsingular set, which is of class \([1,{1\over 2}(q+ 1),{1\over 2}(q+ 3), q+ 1]\) in a hyperplane \(U'\supseteq U\), \(U'\) distinct from the \({1\over 2}(q+ 1)\) hyperplanes contained in \(K\). 4. \(n= 2\) and there is a nondegenerate conic \(C\) and a point \(p\in C\) such that \(K\) is the union of the tangent line \(L\) to \(C\) at \(p\) and the set of internal points of \(C\).