On the finite projective planes of order up to \(q^4,q\) odd, admitting \(\mathrm{PSL}(3,q)\) as a collineation group (Q1022866)

The paper considers the problem of determining a projective plane \(\pi\) of order \(n\) admitting \(G= \text{PSL}(3,q)\) as a collineation group. The following facts are known: {\parindent=4mm \begin{itemize}\item[{\(\bullet\)}] The plane \(\pi\) is Desarguesian when \(n = q\) [\textit{T. G. Ostrom} and \textit{A. Wagner}, Math. Z. 71, 186--199 (1959; Zbl 0085.14302)]. \item[{\(\bullet\)}] \(\pi\) is a Desarguesian plane or a generalized Hughes plane when \(n = q^2\) [\textit{H. Lüneburg}, Can. J. Math. 28, 376--402 (1976; Zbl 0353.50015)]. \item[{\(\bullet\)}] If \(n = q^3\), then \(\pi\) contains a Desarguesian subplane \(\pi_0\) of order \(q\) on which \(G\) acts faithfully in its natural permutation representation [\textit{U. Dempwolff}, Geom. Dedicata 18, 101--112 (1985; Zbl 0563.51008)]. The analogous holds when \(n = q^4\) [Moorehouse (1989)]. \end{itemize}} In this paper the authors give a further contribution and prove the following result: Let \(\pi\) be a finite projective plane of order \(n\) that admits \(G= \text{PSL}(3,q)\), \(q\) an odd prime power, as a collineation group. If \(n\leq q^4\), then the following occurs: {\parindent=8,5mm \begin{itemize}\item[(I)] There exists a subplane \(\pi_0= \text{PG}(2,q)\) of \(\pi\) on which \(G\) acts in the natural way; \item[(II)] The involutions in \(G\) are homologies of \(\pi\); \item[(III)] The \(p\)-elements of \(G\) inducing elations on \(\pi_0\) are elations of \(\pi\). \end{itemize}} Moreover one of the following occurs: {\parindent=8mm \begin{itemize}\item[(i)] \(n=q\) and \(\pi = \pi_0= \text{PG}(2,q)\); \item[(ii)] \(n=q^2\), \(\pi\) is a Desarguesian plane or a generalized Hughes plane and \(\pi_0\) is a Baer subplane of \(\pi\); \item[(iii)] \(n=q^3\); \item[(iv)] \(n=q^2(\lambda(q-1)+1)\), where \(1<\lambda\leq q+1\) and \((q+1)|\lambda(\lambda-1)\). \end{itemize}}