Homology groups, nearfields and reguli (Q1180133)

The aim of this paper is to characterize some translation planes of order \(q^ 2\) with kernel containing \(GF(q)\); translation planes which correspond to a flock of hyperbolic quadric in \(PG(q)\) i.e. Bol planes. It is also possible to recognize such planes as those whose spread is the union of \(q+1\) reguli which mutually share two lines. Then the main result of the paper states the following. Every translation plane of order \(q^ 2\) with kernel containing \(GF(q)\) which admits affine homology group \(H\) of order \(q-1\) and with spread containing a regulus which contains either the axis or coaxis of \(H\) is: either Desarguesian, or regular nearfield plane of odd order, or irregular nearfield plane of order \(11^ 2\), \(23^ 2\), or \(59^ 2\). Among them Desarguesian planes are those which admit affine homology group \(H\) as above and the spread contains a regulus which contains either the axis or the coaxis (but not both) of \(H\). Some other results concerning systems of reguli sharing a line are stated in the sequel.