Projektive Ebenen und Kegelschnitte (Q1345854)

It is well known that Desargues' Theorem is satisfied in a projective plane iff it can be coordinatized by a division ring. The theorem of Pappus is satisfied iff the division ring is commutative -- i.e. is a field. There are several definitions of a conic which are equivalent to each other if the plane is Pappian. Without giving the definitions precisely, they are: 1. The set of points of intersection of corresponding lines of two projectively related pencils of lines. (Steiner) 2. The points of a configuration such that one can choose the coordinate system so that the coordinate of the affine points satisfies \(xy = 1\) (Kruger). 3. The absolute points of a polarity provided not every point is absolute (von Staudt). 4. The locus of an irreducible quadratic equator. In a commutative semi-field the equation \(y = x^ 2\) determines a conic in all of these senses. However, there will be other conics in one or the other above senses which do not satisfy the other definitions. A conic in any of the last three cases is an oval. Here an oval is a set of points no three of which are collinear and such that there is a unique tangent at each point. The main results: If every Steiner conic is an oval, the plane must be Pappian. In a Pappian plane of order \(> 4\) each oval is a Steiner conic iff the field does not have characteristic 2. Every Steiner conic is a Kruger conic iff the plane is Desarguesian. If the Kruger conics and Steiner conics are all von Staudt conics, then the plane admits a group transitive on triangles. Every oval is a von Staudt conic iff the plane is coordinatized by a finite field. There are other important and interesting similar results.