A geometric proof of Wilbrink's characterization of even order classical unitals (Q1700420)

A unital of order $n >2$ is a design with parameters $2-(n^3+ 1, n+ 1,1)$. If $\pi$ is a projective plane of order $m,$ i.e. a $2-(m^2+m+1, m+1,1)$ design, and if a unital $U$ is an induced substructure of $\pi$, then we call $U$ an embedded unital. Some embedded unitals $U$ of order $n$ are the incidence structure formed from the absolute points and non-absolute lines of a unitary polarity in a projective plane $\pi$ of order $n^2$. Any unital which is isomorphic to such a unital $U$ as a design is called a polar unital. Further, if the ambient plane is $\mathrm{PG}(2, n^2)$, then the unital is called classical. The set of absolute points of a unitary polarity in $\mathrm{PG}(2, n^2)$ is called the Hermitian curve. An O'Nan configuration of an unital $U$ is a set of four lines meeting in six points. \par It has been proved by \textit{H. Wilbrink} [Lect. Notes Pure Appl. Math. 82, 445--454 (1983; Zbl 0507.05014)], using some results from group theory, that a unital $U$ of even order $n\geq4$ is classical, if it satisfies the two conditions: \begin{itemize} \item[(I)] $U$ contains no O'Nan configurations, \item[(II)] Let $x$ be a point, $L$ be a line through $x,$ and $M$ be a line missing $x,$ such that $L$ and $M$ meets. For any point $y' \not\in L\setminus\{x\},$ there is a line $M'$ through $y'$ but not $x$ meeting all lines from $x$ which meet $M$. \end{itemize} In this paper, using the Buekenhout construction of a classical unital via a regular spread of $\mathrm{PG}(3,q)$, the author gives a geometric proof of Wilbrink's theorem [loc. cit.] without using the classification of finite groups with a split BN-pair of rank $1$.