A characterization of Denniston's maximal arcs (Q1121524)

Let K be a maximal arc in the finite pappian plane PG(2,q), i.e. K is a set of \((n-1)q+n\) points satisfying \(| K\cap L| \in \{0,n\}\) for every line L. The authors prove the following: if q is even and if K is invariant under a linear collineation of order \(q+1\), then K is one of the maximal arcs constructed by \textit{R. H. F. Denniston} [J. Comb. Theory 6, 317-319 (1969; Zbl 0167.491)] from a partition of PG(2,q) into pencils of conics.