Invertible sharply \(n\)-transitive sets (Q1380351)

The paper investigates sets of permutations acting sharply \(n\)-transitively on some set. The focus is on sets \(G\) of homeomorphisms on the circle acting sharply \(3\)-transitively. The first main result links the set of involutions in \(G\) to real abstract ovals. A real abstract oval is a set of involutions on the circle acting quasi sharply \(2\)-transitively. The set of involutions in \(G\) splits into two parts. Every proper involution of \(G\) has either no or two fixed points. If \(G=G^{-1}\), the set of all involutions in \(G\) with two fixed points is the hyperbolic part of a real abstract oval. The set of all involutions in \(G\) is a real abstract oval if and only if in addition any two different points are exchangend only by involutions in \(G\). The second main result shows that there is a rather natural construction that links every real abstract oval to the dual of a topological oval in a flat projective plane. Flat Minkowski planes can be described by sharply \(3\)-transitive sets. Hence these results provide a link from flat Minkowski planes to topological ovals in flat projective planes. This link differs from the well established link via the derivation at some point. Finally, the author looks at corresponding results in the finite case. Although the paper deals with a great variety of different mathematical concepts, the author devotes sufficient care to the introduction of each concept. The topological arguments involved are mainly connectedness arguments and do not require a strong topological background. Thus everyone with some background in geometry should be able to read and understand the paper.