On finite linear spaces with almost simple flag-transitive automorphism groups (Q1865399)

A (finite) linear space is a pair \(S =({\mathcal P}, {\mathcal L})\) consisting of a (finite) set \(\mathcal P\) of points and a set of distinguished subsets of points, called lines such that any two distinct points of \(S\) belong to exactly one line of \(S\), any line has at least two points and there are at least two lines. A linear space is nontrivial if there is a line with more than two points. A flag of \(S\) is a pair \((p, L)\), with \(p\in L\). In [\textit{F. Buekenhout, A. Delandtsheer, J. Doyen, P. B. Kleidman, M. W. Liebeck} and \textit{J. Saxl}, Geom. Dedicata 36, 89-94 (1990; Zbl 0707.51017)], a classification was announced of the pairs \((S, G)\) where \(S\) is a nontrivial finite linear space and \(G\) is a group of automorphisms of \(S\) acting transitively on the flags of \(S\). \textit{F. Buekenhout, A. Delandtsheer} and \textit{J. Doyen} [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 49, 268-293 (1988; Zbl 0658.20001)] have given a theorem which contributes to the previous classification. Indeed they proved that for a flag-transitive automorphism group \(G\) of a finite nontrivial linear space, one of the following occurs: (a) \(G\) is almost simple, i.e. \(G\) has a non-abelian subgroup \(N\) such that \(N\trianglelefteq G \leq \Aut\;N\); (b) \(G\) is of affine type, i.e. the set of points of \(S\) carries the structure of an affine space \(\text{AG}(p, n)\) (\(p\) prime) invariant under \(G\), and \(G\) contains the translation group \(T\) of \(\text{AG}(n, p)\). The proof of the classification in the affine case (b) has recently appeared in [\textit{M. W. Liebeck}, J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 84, 196-235 (1998; Zbl 0918.51009)]. In case (a), let \(X\) be the simple socle of \(G\). In [Arch. Math. 47, 395-400 (1986; Zbl 0582.51005)] \textit{A. Delandtsheer} handled the case where \(G\) is one of the simple groups \(L_2(q), L_3(q), U_3(q)\) and \(^2B_2(q)\). \textit{P. B. Kleidman} [J. Algebra 115, 182-199 (1988; Zbl 0642.20013)] has investigated the case of exceptional groups of Lie type. The paper under review completes the proof for the case \(X\) is a simple group of Lie type by dealing with the classical groups. Several of the families of examples are either projective planes, or admit a flag-transitive group \(G\) acting \(2\)-transitively on points.