Actions of almost simple groups on compact eight-dimensional projective planes are classical, almost (Q1904106)

The automorphism group \(\Sigma\) of a compact, 8-dimensional projective plane \({\mathcal P}\) is locally compact. Let \(\Delta\) denote a connected closed subgroup of \(\Sigma\) and put \(h = \dim \Delta\). Whenever \(h \geq 12\), then \(\Delta\) is a Lie group [\textit{B. Priwitzer}, Geom. Dedicata 52, No. 1, 33-40 (1994; Zbl 0810.51003)]. All planes with \(h \geq 17\) are known [the ref., Forum Math. 2, No. 1, 15-34 (1990; Zbl 0684.51012)]: either \({\mathcal P}\) is a translation plane, or \(\Delta' \cong SL_3 \mathbb{C}\) and \({\mathcal P}\) is a Hughes plane [cp. the author, Can. Math. Bull. 37, No. 1, 112-123 (1994; Zbl 0801.51013)]. In the paper under review, the author extends the classification to almost simple groups \(\Delta\) with \(h > 10\). If such a group \(\Delta\) acts on \({\mathcal P}\), and if \(\Delta\not\cong SL_3 \mathbb{C}\), then \({\mathcal P}\) is the classical quaternion plane, and \(\Delta = \Sigma\) or \(\Delta\) is strictly simple and centralizes a polarity \((\Delta\) is the elliptic or hyperbolic motion group or \(\Delta \cong U^\alpha_3 \mathbb{H}\) is the motion group of a planar polarity), or \(\Delta \cong SL_2 \mathbb{H}\) and the central involution of \(\Delta\) is a reflection. In particular, \(h \geq 15\).