Generalized quadrangles of order \((s,s^2)\). III (Q1304623)

A triple of pairwise non-collinear points \(x_0\), \(x_1\), \(x_2\) of a generalized quadrangle \({\mathcal S}\) of order \((s,s^2)\) is called 3-regular if there are precisely \(s+1\) points \(x_0,\dots, x_s\) collinear with all points (and there are always precisely \(s+1\) such) that are collinear with \(x_0\), \(x_1\), \(x_2\). Then, \({\mathcal S}\) is said to have Property (G) at the flag \(x_0\), \(L\), where \(x_0\) is a point and \(L\) a line incident with \(x_0\), if all triples \(x_0\), \(x_1\), \(x_2\) are 3-regular, with \(x_1\) and \(x_2\) two non-collinear points, not incident with \(L\), and both collinear with the same point (distinct from \(x_0\)) on \(L\). It is well-known that, if \({\mathcal S}\) has Property (G) at all flags \(x_0\), \(L\), for some point \(x_0\) and every line \(L\) incident with \(x_0\), and if \(s\) is odd, then \({\mathcal S}\) is isomorphic to the classical quadrangle \(Q(4,s)\). In the paper under review, the author proves the following very beautiful, powerful and impressive theorem. If \({\mathcal S}\) has Property (G) in one flag, and \(s\) is odd, then the dual of \({\mathcal S}\) is the quadrangle arising from a flock of a quadratic cone (a so-called flock quadrangle). Along the way of the proof, a new geometrical construction is obtained for quadrangles arising from flocks, independent of the characteristic. Also, this is a remarkable result. The conjecture stated at the end of the paper says that most probably, for \(s\) even, the quadrangle \({\mathcal S}\) of order \((s,s^2)\) is the dual of a flock quadrangle if and only if it has Property (G) in all flags \(x_0\), \(L\), for some line \(L\) and every point \(x_0\) incident with \(L\). To be proved before Part IV appears\dots\ . [For part I and II see ibid. 67, No. 2, 140-160 (1994; Zbl 0808.51010) and ibid. 79, No. 2, 223-254 (1997; Zbl 0887.51004)].