Conical, ruled and deficiency one translation planes (Q1301680)

The authors generalize results concerning flocks of cones in \(\text{PG}(3,K)\), where \(K\) is a finite field, to the infinite case; that is, to flocks of cones in \(\text{PG}(3,K)\) with \(K\) a division ring (skewfield). Flocks have strong connections with generalized quadrangles and translation planes, and the authors explore the connection between flocks and translation planes when \(K\) is a field. There are many nice results in the article of which we can give only a few, and the interested reader is referred to the article itself. A conical translation plane is one with spread in \(\text{PG}(3,K)\) for \(K\) a division ring which is a union of a normal set of pseudo-reguli sharing exactly one line \(L\). The authors show that such a plane has an affine elation group with axis \(L\) that acts regularly on those lines other than \(L\) in each pseudo-regulus net through the zero vector. A ruled translation plane is one with spread in \(\text{PG}(3,K)\) that is a union of pseudo-reguli sharing exactly two lines \(L\) and \(M\). Such planes, the authors show, have an affine homology group with axis \(L\) and coaxis \(M\) acting regularly on those lines through the zero vector not equal to \(L\) nor \(M\). The authors also discuss partial flocks of quadratic cones and of hyperbolic cones having deficiency one. In the case of a finite field \(K\) partial flocks of deficiency one of a quadratic cone can always be extended to a flock [see \textit{S. E. Payne} and \textit{J. Thas}, Geom. Dedicata 38, No. 2, 229-243 (1991; Zbl 0735.51010)], but not all partial flocks of deficiency one of hyperbolic cones can be so extended [see, for example, \textit{N. L. Johnson}, J. Geom. 34, No. 1/2, 50-73 (1989; Zbl 0669.51003)]. The authors consider partial flocks of deficiency one for a (possibly) infinite field \(K\). They prove that the set of partial flocks of deficiency one of a quadratic cone in \(\text{PG}(3,K)\) is equivalent to the set of translation planes with spreads in \(\text{PG}(3,K)\) having a point-Baer elation group \(B\) that acts transitively on nonfixed 1-dimensional \(K\)-subspaces of components of the fixed point subplane. Furthermore, a partial flock of deficiency one of a quadratic cone in \(\text{PG}(3,K)\) can be extended to a flock if and only if in the corresponding translation plane with point-Baer elation group \(B\) the net defined by \(\text{Fix}(B)\) defines a regulus in \(\text{PG}(3,K)\). Similar results (with a point-Baer homology group replacing the point-Baer elation group) hold for partial flocks of deficiency one of a hyperbolic cone. The authors give results concerning other topics such as the double cover of a conical translation plane and a generalization of Hall planes in the case where the underlying field \(K\) is infinite. The interested person is urged to read the article itself.