Characterizing symmetric designs by their symmetries (Q1825196)

Consider the following three properties that symmetric (v,k,\(\lambda)\) designs may possess. A. There exists an automorphism group G of D which fixes a block B and acts on the points of B in the way PSL(2,q) acts on PG(1,q). B. There exists an automorphism group G of D which fixes a block B and acts 2-homogeneously on the points of B. C. There exists an automorphism group G of D which fixes a block B and acts transitively both on the set of points incident with B and on the set of points not incident with B. The author classifies all symmetric (v,k,\(\lambda)\) designs satisfying any one of the conditions. He first shows that either property B or C implies property A. He then shows that property A is only satisfied in the five known cases. The proof that either property B or C implies property A depends on the classification of finite simple groups. The proof that property A can only be satisfied in the known cases is based on Weil's estimate on the number of points on an algebraic curve of genus g and on modular representation theory.