An alternative existence proof of the geometry of Ivanov-Shpectorov for O'Nan's sporadic group (Q1700418)

The paper revisits and expends on the construction by \textit{A. A. Ivanov} and \textit{S. V. Shpektorov} [Russ. Math. Surv. 41, No. 3, 211--212 (1986; Zbl 0626.20009); translation from Usp. Mat. Nauk 41, No. 3(249), 183--184 (1986)] of a rank 5 diagram geometry \(\Gamma_{\text{IvSh}}\) with a flag-transitive action of the sporadic group \(\text O'\text N\). The main result of the paper is a detailed proof of the existence of the geometry \(\Gamma_{\text{IvSh}}\). The two sporadic groups \(\text J_1\) and \(\text M_{11}\) appear among the 5 maximal parabolic subgroups of the geometry. It is proved that two previously known rank 4 geometries for respectively \(\text J_1\) and \(\text M_{11}\) occur as residues for \(\Gamma_{\text{IvSh}}\). Similarly, a rank 3 geometry for \(\text O'\text N\) independently constructed by \textit{T. Connor} [Innov. Incidence Geom. 13, 83--95 (2013; Zbl 1479.51013)] is shown to be a truncation of \(\Gamma_{\text{IvSh}}\). Along the way, the full structure of the Boolean lattice of 32 subgroups associated with the geometry \(\Gamma_{\text{IvSh}}\) is established.