Biplanes (56,11,2) with automorphism group \(Z_ 2\times Z_ 2\) fixing some point (Q1121268)

The following theorem is proved in this paper: let D be a biplane (56,11,2) admitting \(Z_ 2\times Z_ 2\) as a subgroup of a point- stabilizer in the automorphism group Aut(D) of D. Then D is one of four known examples; namely, the Hall biplane, the Salwach-Mezzaroba biplane, the Denniston biplane of the Janko-van Trung biplane. In a previous paper of the authors in Discrete Math. 71, No.1, 9-17 (1988; Zbl 0662.05009), the authors have also proved that a biplane (56,11,2) admitting \(Z_ 4\) as a subgroup of a point stabilizer in the automorphism group is a known one. Whence, as they comment, if D were a new biplane (56,11,2), point stabilizers in Aut(D) should have orders not divisible by 4.