Translation ovoids of flock generalized quadrangles. (Q1422395)

Let \(S(F)\) be the generalised quadrangle (GQ) of order \((q^2,q)\) as defined by the fourgonal family \(F\). A translation ovoid \(O\) of \(S(F)\) is a set of \(q^3+1\) points of \(S(F)\) such that: (1) no two points of \(O\) are collinear on \(S(F)\); (2) \((\infty)\in O\) and there is a subgroup of the elation group \(G\) fixing \((\infty)\) which acts in a sharply transitive way on \(O\). The first part of the paper deals with translation ovoids in this general setting; then, a characterisation of translation ovoids of flock generalised quadrangles is provided. Next, the translation ovoids of the classical GQ given by \(H(3,q^2)\) are investigated. Namely, it is proven that any translation ovoid of \(H(3,q^2)\) with respect to \((\infty)\) defines a semifield of dimension \(2\) over its nucleus and that, conversely, it is always possible to construct a translation ovoid of \(H(3,q^2)\) starting from such a semifield. In the case \(q\) even, it is shown that, in fact, any translation ovoid of \(H(3,q^2)\) corresponds to a translation ovoid of \textit{each} elation GQ arising from a \(q\)-clan. In the last part of the paper, several examples of translation ovoids of flock GQs are provided for \(q\) odd.