Characterizations for classical finite hexagons (Q1281126)

Let \(\Gamma\) be a generalized \(n\)-gon of order \((s,t)\). The trace \(x^y\) with \(x\) and \(y\) opposite elements, is the set of all elements at distance 2 from \(x\) and distance \(n-2\) from \(y\). The point \(x\) is said to be regular, if for all points \(y,z\) opposite \(x\), \(| x^y\cap x^z| \geq 2\) implies \(x^y=x^z\). The point \(x\) is said to be spanregular, if \(x\) is regular and for all points \(p,a,b\) with \(d(x,p)=2\), \(d(p,a)=d(p,b)=n\): \(x\in p^a\cap p^b\) and \(| p^a\cap p^b| \geq 2\) imply \(p^a=p^b\). An ovoidal subspace \(\mathcal A\) of a generalized \(2m\)-gon \(\Gamma=({\mathcal P}, {\mathcal L},I)\) is a proper non-empty set of points \({\mathcal A}\) with an induced set of lines \({\mathcal A}'=\{L\in {\mathcal L} | \;\Gamma_1(L)\subset {\mathcal A}\}\), such that every element of \(\Gamma\) is at distance \(\leq m\) from a certain point \(p\) of \(\mathcal A\), and such that for every element of \(\Gamma-({\mathcal A}\cup {\mathcal A}')\) at distance \(<m\) from a certain point \(p\) of \(\mathcal A\), this point \(p\) is unique. Main result. Let \(\Gamma\) be a generalized hexagon of order \((s,t)\) having an ovoidal subspace \(\mathcal A\), satisfying \((*)\) any 2 opposite points of \(\Gamma\) are contained in a subhexagon of order \((1,t)\),\ then all points of \(\mathcal A\) are spanregular if and only if \(\Gamma\) is isomorphic the split Cayley hexagon \(H(q)\) or the triality hexagon \(T(r^3,r)\). Theorem 1. An ovoidal subspace of a generalized hexagon of order \((s,t)\) is either ovoid, or the set of all points at distance 1 or 3 from a given line \(L\), or the pointset of a generalized subhexagon of order \((s,\sqrt{t/s})\). >From the proof it follow that the condition \((*)\) becomes superfluous in certain cases (for example, if \(\Gamma\) is of order \(s\) and \(\mathcal A\) is ovoid or \({\mathcal A}=\Gamma_1(L)\cup \Gamma_3(L)\) for some line \(L\)).