A characterization of \(Q(5,q)\) using one subquadrangle \(Q(4,q)\) (Q1348743)

A finite generalized quadrangle \(\Gamma\) of order \((s,t)\), with \(s>0\) and \(t>0\), is an incidence structure of points and lines with \(s+1\) points incident with a line and \(t+1\) lines incident with a point, such that for every non-incident point-line pair \((p,L)\) there is exactly one incident point-line pair \((q,M)\) such that \(p\) \(I\) \(M\) \(I\) \(q\) \(I\) \(L\). A subquadrangle \(\Delta\) of order \((s',t')\) of a generalized quadrangle \(\Gamma\) of order \((s,t)\) is a subgeometry of \(\Gamma\) which is itself a generalized quadrangle of order \((s',t')\). An ovoid \(O\) of a generalized quadrangle \(\Gamma\) of order \((s,t)\) is a set of points of \(\Gamma\) such that each line of \(\Gamma\) is incident with a unique point of \(O\). Let \(\Gamma\) be a generalized quadrangle of order \((s,t)\) with a subquadrangle \(\Delta\) of order \((s,t')\), i.e. with the same \(s\), and let \(p\) be a point of \(\Gamma - \Delta\). Then the set of points of \(\Delta\) which are collinear (i.e. at graph distance 2) with \(p\) forms an ovoid of \(\Delta\); such an ovoid is said to be subtended by \(p\). For general results on the subject see [\textit{S. E. Payne} and \textit{J. A. Thas}, Finite generalized quadrangles, Research Notes in Mathematics, 110, Pitman, Boston (1984; Zbl 0551.05027)]. Two of the classical generalized quadrangles arise from the quadrics of \(PG(d,q)\), the projective space of dimension \(d\) over the Galois field \(GF(q)\) of order \(q\). Precisely \(Q(5,q)\) is the incidence geometry consisting of points and lines on an elliptic quadric of \(PG(5,q)\) and \(Q(4,q)\) is the incidence geometry consisting of points and lines on a quadric of \(PG(4,q)\); it is well known that \(Q(4,q)\) can be considered a subquadrangle of \(Q(5,q)\) in a natural way. In the paper under review the authors characterize these classical generalized quadrangles in terms of their linear collineations, of their ovoids and of special triads of points providing a purely geometric proof.