A model of the Witt design \(W _{12}\) based on quadrics of PG(2, 3) (Q1849892)

In the paper under review an elementary geometric proof for the existence of Witt's \(5\)-\((12, 6, 1)\)-design \(W_{12}\) is given. The author shows that if we fix one point \(U = (u_0, u_1, u_2)\) in \(PG(2, 3)\), and for \[ {\mathcal W} =\{ X =(x_0, x_1, x_2) \in PG(2, 3) \mid X \neq U\} \] and \(b\in\mathcal B\), if (1) \(|b|> 3\), (2) there is a non-zero quadratic form \(q:{F}^3\rightarrow F\) (\(F = GF(3)\)) such that \[ b = \{X = (x_0, x_1, x_2)\in {\mathcal W} \mid (x_0, x_1, x_2)^q = 2(u_0, u_1, u_2)^q\} \] then the incidence structure \(({\mathcal W},{\mathcal B},\in)\) is a \(5\)-\((12, 6, 1)\)-design. Since the Witt design \(W_{12}\) is the only \(5\)-\((12, 6, 1)\)-design up to isomorphism [cf. \textit{T. Beth, D. Jungnickel} and \textit{H. Lenz}, Design Theory, BI Wissenschaftsverlag, Mannheim Wien Zürich (1985; Zbl 0569.05002)], it follows that \(({\mathcal W}, {\mathcal B}, \in)\) is isomorphic to \(W_{12}\).