The classification of distance-transitive graphs of type \(q.K_{q,q}\) (Q1174156)

Associated with a graph \(\Gamma\) of diameter \(d\) define \(\Gamma_ i\) to be the graph with the same vertex set, whose edges are the 2-subsets of vertices at distance \(i\) in \(\Gamma (i=1,2,\dots,d)\); \(\Gamma\) is said to be distance-transitive if it is connected and admits a group of automorphisms which is transitive on the vertex set and on the edges of \(\Gamma_ i (i=1,2,\dots,d)\). When \(\Gamma_ d\) is a disjoint union of cliques, \(\overline\Gamma\) is defined to be the graph whose vertices are the maximal cliques of \(\Gamma_ d\), adjacent whenever their union contains an edge of \(\Gamma\); if the maximal cliques of \(\Gamma\) all have precisely \(q\) vertices, \(\Gamma\) is said to be a \(q\)-fold antipodal cover of \(\overline\Gamma\). \textit{A. Gardiner} [Imprimitive distance-regular graphs and projective planes, J. Comb. Theory, Ser. B 16, 274-281 (1974; Zbl 0267.05112)] ``pointed out that a \(q\)-fold antipodal cover of ... \(K_{q,q}\) is constructible from any incident point-line pair in a projective plane of order \(q\), and, conversely, that a projective plane of this order is constructible from any such graph''. Gardiner further conjectured that only Desarguesian planes give rise to distance- transitive graphs. Recently \textit{I. V. Chuvaeva} and \textit{D. V. Pasechnik} [Distance-transitive graphs of type \(q.K_{q,q}\) and projective planes, Eur. J. Comb. 11, No. 4, 341-346 (1990; Zbl 0739.05040)] observed that certain planes coordinatized by the twisted fields of Albert also correspond to such graphs. The purpose of this note is to prove that there are no others. The proof of this theorem uses the classification of doubly transitive groups having a regular normal subgroup that is attributed to \textit{C. Hering} [Transitive linear groups and linear groups which contain irreducible subgroups of prime order. II. J. Algebra 93, 151-164 (1985; Zbl 0583.20003)] by \textit{M. W. Liebeck} [The affine permutation groups of rank three, Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 54, 477-516 (1987; Zbl 0621.20001)]. This version of Hering's theorem depends upon the classification of finite simple groups. Similar methods appeared in \textit{M. J. Ganley} and \textit{V. Jha} [On a conjecture of Kallaher and Liebler, Geom. Dedicata 21, 277-289 (1986; Zbl 0601.51014)].