The Apollonius problem in four-dimensional Laguerre planes (Q1339790)

Let \({\mathcal E}= ({\mathcal S},{\mathcal K},{\mathcal F})\) denote a 4-dimensional Laguerre plane where \({\mathcal S}\) is the 4-dimensional point space, \({\mathcal K}\) is the 6-dimensional circle space and \({\mathcal F}\) is the collection of incident point-circle pairs of the Laguerre plane. The author solves the Apollonius problem in 4-dimensional Laguerre planes, i.e. the number of circles in \({\mathcal E}= ({\mathcal S},{\mathcal K},{\mathcal F})\) touching three given elements of \({\mathcal S}\cup {\mathcal K}\) is determined. The result is summarized in a list of all possible configurations of three elements in \({\mathcal S}\cup {\mathcal K}\) and the corresponding numbers of touching circles. In particular, the number of touching circles depends only on the configuration of the three elements and not on the Laguerre plane. In Geom. Dedicata 46, No. 3, 339-361 (1993; Zbl 0788.51003) the author proved that the Lie geometry of a 4-dimensional Laguerre plane is a topological generalized quadrangle. Circles and points of the Laguerre plane become points in the Lie geometry; in the generalized quadrangle one then has to determine the number of points collinear to three given points. The solution of the Apollonius problem is then obtained by simultaneously showing that the Lie geometry of a 4-dimensional Laguerre plane is antiregular. An important tool is the study of certain involutions on various spaces each homeomorphic to the Euclidean 2-sphere \(\mathbb{S}_ 2\) and of twofold coverings of \(\mathbb{S}_ 2\) branched at two points. Similarly, using his earlier result that, up to duality, each 3- dimensional generalized quadrangle is antiregular and thus the Lie geometry of a 2-dimensional Laguerre plane, the author solved the Apollonius problem in 2-dimensional Laguerre planes in J. Geom. 42, No. 1/2, 141-147 (1991; Zbl 0746.51007). In his habilitation thesis [Topological circle planes and topological quadrangles, Braunschweig (1994)] the author recently succeeded in proving the antiregularity of the associated Lie geometry of a 4- dimensional Laguerre plane without first solving the Apollonius problem; furthermore this method simultaneously works for 2- and 4-dimensional Laguerre planes. The Lie geometry of a \(2n\)-dimensional Laguerre plane is a compact antiregular generalized quadrangle of order \((n,n)\), \(n=1,2\), that is, each line and each line pencil is homeomorphic to the Euclidean \(n\)-sphere \(\mathbb{S}_ n\). Moreover, up to duality, every compact generalized quadrangles of order \((n,n)\), \(n=1,2\), is antiregular. In the same paper that author further established a unique correspondence between \(2n\)-dimensional Minkowski planes and certain compact antiregular generalized quadrangles of order \((n,n)\), \(n=1,2\). This construction is similar to one for 2-dimensional Möbius by \textit{H. Groh} [Abh. Math. Sem. Univ. Hamburg 40, 43-63 (1974; Zbl 0297.50021)]. In this way the Apollonius problem is solved for 2- and 4-dimensional Möbius and Minkowski planes.