On a class of sharply 3-transitive groups (Q1187127)

The most well-known sharply 3-transitive permutation group is the \(PGL(2,K)\) operating on the projective line \(\overline K=K\cup\{\infty\}\), where \(K\) is a commutative field. All other known examples of such groups are constructed as ``fractional linear'' groups of certain nearfields, called \(KT\)-nearfields, i.e. nearfields \((K,+,\cdot,\sigma)\) which possess an involutory automorphism \(\sigma\) of the multiplicative group \((K^ \times,\cdot)\) satisfying the functional equation \(1-\sigma(1-x)=\sigma(1-\sigma(x))\) for all \(x\in F\), \(x\neq 0,1\). In this paper the author gives a general method for constructing such \(KT\)-fields which includes all known examples and which enlarges earlier construction methods. They are all Dickson nearfields derived from commutative fields. He proves also that any \(KT\)-nearfield whose multiplicative group \((K^ \times,\cdot)\) contains an abelian subgroup of finite index belongs to the class constructed here. A thorough investigation of these nearfields might lead to a proof of the following conjecture: Any sharply 3-transitive group \(G\), where the 2- point stabilizer \(G_{a,b}\) has an abelian subgroup of finite index can be constructed with \(KT\)-nearfields whose multiplicative groups possess an abelian subgroup of finite index. The case for index 2 has been settled by the author and the reviewer in 1974 [cf. J. Reine Angew. Math. 268/269, 17-26 (1974; Zbl 0298.20004)]. The question to which extent the \(KT\)-nearfields are Dicksonian (possibly all) seems far away from a solution.