Elation generalized quadrangles of order \((p,t)\), \(p\) prime, are classical (Q1361700)

The paper proves that elation generalized quadrangles of order \((p,t)\), where \(p\) is a prime, are classical. The proof splits roughly into two parts. In the first part the cases with \(t\in\{p,p^2\}\) are considered. It is shown that \(t\in\{p,p^2\}\) implies regularity conditions on points or antiregularity conditions on lines. Then, by known results on generalized quadrangles the quadrangles are classical. In this discussion the generalized quadrangle \(Q(4,p)\) is the most difficult case. In the second part it is shown that \(t\in\{p,p^2\}\) are the only possible cases. This result is due to \textit{D. E. Frohardt} [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 46, No. 1, 139-145 (1988; Zbl 0639.51012)]. However, the proof presented in the paper under review is more on the geometric side, while Frohardt's proof is purely algebraic.