Generalized groups that distribute over stars (Q1925593)

The authors investigated in [Int. J. Algebra 3, No. 1--4, 157--171 (2009; Zbl 1168.22017)] groups that distribute over mathematical structures, that is, the left regular representation of the group consists of similarities of the mathematical structure. In the paper under review, the authors apply their concept to what they call generalized \(n\)-stars. These are combinatorial designs on \(\frac12 n(n-1)\) points and \(n\) lines containing \(n-1\) points each such that each point is on exactly two lines. The main problem posed by the authors is to find all \(n\)-stars that admit groups that left distribute over them, and for each such \(n\)-star to determine all the different types of groups, up to isomorphism, that left distribute over it. They show that such a group \(G\) exists if and only if \(n\) is congruent to 3 modulo 4. In this case, \(G\), as a permutation group on the set of lines, is a Frobenius group of order \(\frac12 n(n-1)\) with Frobenius kernel an abelian \(p\)-group of order \(n\). This paper extends the authors' preliminary investigations in [Int. J. Algebra 3, No. 1--4, 173--179 (2009; Zbl 1181.22023)], where some basic computations for \(n\)-stars with \(n\leq 7\) were presented.