Intersections of Buekenhout-Metz unitals (Q1022862)

The family \(\mathcal F\) of Buekenhout-Metz unitals in \(PG(2,q^2)\), \(q\) any prime power, constructed in [\textit{R. D. Baker} and \textit{G. L. Ebert}, Congr. Numerantium 70, 87--94 (1990; Zbl 0695.51009)] and in [\textit{G. L. Ebert}, Eur. J. Comb. 13, No.~2, 109--117 (1992; Zbl 0758.51006)] is considered. This family contains both classical unitals as well as non-classical ones. The author proves that two classical unitals in \(\mathcal F\) intersect on \(q+1\) collinear points, whereas in all other cases the intersection number is one of the following: \(q+1\), \(q^2+1\), \(2q^2-q+1\).