Generalized hexagons as amalgamations of generalized quadrangles (Q1321683)

The paper investigates generalized hexagons with regular points and, in particular, generalized hexagons with an incident regular point-line pair. The first main result states that if \(p\) is a regular point of a finite generalized quadrangle of order \((s,t)\), then \(s \geq t\). If in addition \(s = t\), then a certain derived geometry at \(p\) yields a generalized quadrangle of order \((s,s)\). Incidently, this quadrangle has also a regular point and the derived geometry at this point yields a generalized triangle, i.e., a projective plane. Similar results can be obtained if finite hexagons are replaced by compact hexagons [the first author and the reviewer, Geom. Dedicata 51, No. 3, 215-233 (1994)]. If a generalized hexagon (or a generalized quadrangle) has a regular point incident with a regular line, then the derived geometry at the point as well as the derived geometry at the line yields a generalized quadrangle (or a projective plane). In this situation the construction can be reversed, i.e., one can reconstruct the hexagon (the quadrangle) from the two quadrangles (projective planes) via amalgamation. The authors first have a closer look at the amalgamation of two projective planes. Using the insight obtained and computer calculation, they show that, up to isomorphism, there are precisely two generalized quadrangles of order \((8,8)\) with an incident regular point-line pair. They then proceed to amalgamate two generalized quadrangles. They show that precisely the generalized hexagons with an incident regular point- line pair can be obtained via the amalgamation of two generalized quadrangles. Not every pair of generalized quadrangles can be used for amalgamation. Using the coordinatization methods introduced by Hanssens and the first author the authors deduce some conditions under which classical quadrangles can be used for amalgamation. These results are applied to generalized quadrangles associated to \(GF(q)\), where \(q\) is a power of 3. It is shown that in this case the obtained hexagon is the hexagon arising from \(G_ 2(q)\). Although regular points are also of interest in compact polygons, the amalgamation of generalized quadrangles (and projective planes) does not work for compact polygons. The reason is that there are no incident regular point-line pairs in compact hexagons or quadrangles.