Bruen chains over fields of small order (Q1827749)

A spread of \(PG(3,q)\) is a set of \(q^2+1\) lines partitioning the point set of \(PG(3,q);\) a regulus is one ruling of a hyperbolic quadric. Given three pairwise skew lines, there is a unique regulus containing them. A spread is called regular if it contains the regulus defined by any three of its lines. A Bruen chain is a collection \(\mathcal C\) of \((q+3)/2\) reguli in a regular spread \(\mathcal S\) of \(PG(3,q),\) \(q\) odd, such that two reguli of \(\mathcal C\) have exactly two lines in common but no three reguli of \(\mathcal C\) have any line in common. In [Discrete Math. 214, No. 1--3, 251--253 (2000; Zbl 0951.51005)] \textit{O. Heden} and \textit{M. Saggese} give a complete classification of Bruen chains for \(q \leq 37\). In this paper, with the aid of a computer, the authors prove that there are no Bruen chains for \(q=41, 43,47, 49.\)