Inherited arcs in finite affine planes (Q1072103)

Let \(\Sigma =\Sigma (q)\) be the family of all affine planes of order q, where \(q=p^ k\) for some p prime, and let \(\sigma\) be any plane belonging to \(\Sigma\). And moreover, identifying the points of \(\sigma\) with those of AG(2,q) and regarding the lines of \(\sigma\) as point-sets in AG(2,q), consider an irreducible conic K in AG(2,q) which is an inherited arc of \(\sigma\) or, in greater detail, which can be completed in a \((q+1)\)-arc in the projective closure \({\bar \sigma}\) of \(\sigma\). In the paper under review, the author investigates the following problem: How does the type of K influence the structure of \(\sigma\) and, in particular, under what conditions on K and \(\sigma\) we can conclude that \(\sigma\) is isomorphic to AG(2,q) ? As a result of this investigation the following three theorems are proved: (1) If K is a parabola in AG(2,q), where q is odd, and if K is still an arc in a translation plane \(\sigma\) belonging to \(\Sigma\), then \(\sigma\) coincides with AG(2,q); (2) There exists a parabola in \(AG(2,2^{2m})\) which is still an arc in the Hall plane \({\mathcal H}(2^{2m})\) of the same order; (3) If K is an irreducible conic in AG(2,q) which is still an arc in a plane \(\sigma\) and if any chord and any tangent of K is also a line of \(\sigma\), then \(\sigma\) coincides with AG(2,q).