A new characterization of the Desarguesian and the Figueroa plane (Q2007711)

Let \(\Pi\) be a projective plane of order \(q^3\) admitting as collineation group a group \(G\) isomorphic to \(\mathrm{PGL}(3,q)\). By [\textit{U. Dempwolff}, Geom. Dedicata 18, 101--112 (1985; Zbl 0563.51008)], such a plane contains a \(G\)-invariant subplane \(\pi_0\) which is isomorphic to \(\mathrm{PG}(2, q)\) and \(G\) acts 2-transitively on it. Also, there are precisely three orbits of lines \(\mathcal{L}_i(\Pi)\) and three orbits of points \(\mathcal{P}_i(\Pi)\) of \(\Pi\) under the action of \(G\), namely the orbits of lines (points) of \(\Pi\) incident with \(q+1\), \(1\), or \(0\) points (lines) of \(\pi_0\). Let us denote by \(\mathcal{D}\) and \(\mathcal{F}\) the Desarguesian plane \(\mathrm{PG}(2,q^3)\) an the Figueroa plane of order \(q^3\) respectively. In [Combinatorica 37, No. 3, 375--395 (2017; Zbl 1389.51001)], \textit{M. Biliotti} and \textit{A. Montinaro} proved that, if \(\mathcal{P}_i(\Pi)=\mathcal{P}_i(\mathcal{D})\) for \(i = 1, 2, 3\) and \(\mathcal{P}_j(\Pi)=\mathcal{P}_j(\mathcal{D})\) for \(j = 1, 2\), then \(\mathcal{P}_3(\Pi)\) is determined and \(\Pi\) is isomorphic either to \(\mathcal{D}\) or to \(\mathcal{F}\). A further contribution to classify the planes of order \(q^3\) admitting \(G\) as a collineation group is given here: for such planes the tactical configuration \((\mathcal{P}_3(\Pi),\mathcal{L}_3(\Pi))\) essentially determines the structure of \(\Pi\). The main result is the following. Theorem. \(\Pi\) is Desarguesian or the Figueroa plane of order \(q^3\) if and only if \((\mathcal{P}_3(\Pi),\mathcal{L}_3(\Pi))\) is isomorphic to \((\mathcal{P}_3(\mathcal{D}),\mathcal{L}_3(\mathcal{D}))\).