Mixed nests (Q1919304)

A derivable net (regulus net) of order \(q^2\) is a net with \(q + 1\) parallel classes and \(q^2\) points on each line such that each pair of points joined by a line of the net belongs to exactly one Baer subplane (subplane of order \(q)\) of the net. If \(\Pi\) is a translation plane of order \(q^2\), defined on a vector space of dimension 4 over \({\mathcal G} F(q)\), the lines through the origin form a spread on the three dimensional projective space defined on this vector space; the lines through the origin of a derivable net become the lines of a regulus. Hence the term ``regulus net''. If a net \(N\) consists of \(t\) regulus nets such that each line through the origin belongs to exactly two of the regulus nets, then \(N\) is called a \(t\)-nest. A net \(N\) is said to be replaceable if there is another net \(\overline N\) defined on the same points such that a pair of points is joined by a line of \(N\) iff they are joined by a line of \(\overline N\). In certain cases we have replaceable \(t\)-nests. Let \(K = {\mathcal G} F(q^2)\) be an extension of \(F ={\mathcal G} F(q)\). Let \(\delta \neq 0\) belong to \(F\). Let \(\Pi\) be an affine plane coordinatized by \(K\) then the set of lines with equations \(y = xm + b\) such that \(m^{q + 1} = \delta\) form a derivable net which line will be called an André net. The authors put together nests of regulus nets together with André nets to form ``mixed'' replaceable nets admitting homology groups of order \({1 \over 2} (q + 1)\). The paper contains an extensive summary of related results including work on flocks.