2-transitive abstract ovals of odd order (Q1092410)

A B-oval (or Buekenhout oval) \(B=(M,F)\) is defined as a set M of ``points'' together with a sharply 2-transitive set f of involutorial permutations of M, called ``involutions'' [see \textit{F. Buekenhout}, Rend. Mat. Appl., V. Ser. 25, 333-393 (1966; Zbl 0155.491)]. An automorphism g of a B-oval is a permutation of M which induces a map \(m_ g\) of F onto itself, i.e. \(m_ g(f)=gfg^{-1}\in F\), for each \(f\in F\). A B-oval is called 2-transitive if it has an automorphism group acting 2-transitively on M. The ``classical B-oval'' arises in a natural way from the irreducible conic of PG(2,K). We define the order of a finite B-oval by \(n=| M| -1\). The main result of the present paper is the following: Let \(B=(M,F)\) a B-oval of order \(q=p^ r\) with odd prime p. If B admits an automorphism group G acting on M as PSL(2,q) in its usual 2-transitive representation, then B is the classical B-oval of PG(2,q).