A characterization of 3-local geometry of \(M(24)\) (Q1126438)

The largest Fischer 3-transposition group \(M(24)\) acts flag-transitively on a 3-local incidence geometry \({\mathcal G} (M(24))\) which is a \(c\)-extension of the dual polar space associated with the group \(O_7(3)\). The action of the simple commutator subgroup \(M(24)'\) on \({\mathcal G} (M(24))\) is still flag-transitive. Let \({\mathcal G} (M(24))\) have diagram \(\delta\). The main theorem of the paper is the following. Let \({\mathcal G}\) be a geometry with the diagram \(\delta\) admitting a flag-transitive automorphism group \(G\). Assume that the stabilizer of a maximal flag in \({\mathcal G}\) is finite. Then \({\mathcal G} \cong {\mathcal G} (M(24))\) and \(G\) is isomorphic either to \(M(24)\) or to \(M(24)'\). The first author has added a note in proof that he has since been able to remove the finiteness assumption from the hypothesis. The proof uses an unpublished pushing-up result by U. Meierfrankenfeld, and the theorem has been used in later work by the first author and Meierfrankenfeld to characterize the Buekenhout-Fischer 3-local geometry \({\mathcal G} (F_1)\) of the Monster.