Classifying derivable nets (Q2152184)

This article investigates derivable nets. All derivable nets can be combinatorially embedded into a 3-dimensional space \(\mathrm{PG}(3,K)_C\), over a skewfield \(K\). The points and lines of the derivable net are the points and lines of \(\mathrm{PG}(3,K)_C\) that are not incident with a fixed line \(N\) or not equal to this line \(N\), respectively. The Baer subplanes and parallel classes are the planes not containing or containing this line \(N\), respectively. There is also a contraction/retraction method to a 4-dimensional vector space over the skewfield \(K\), where the derivable net can be represented in the form of what is called a classical pseudo-regulus net. This article presents a classification of derivable nets by comparing them to any given classical pseudo-regulus net. The author shows that there are four classes. He gives examples for each class. Section 2 states the main classification results. In Theorem 1, the setting is stated. Definition 4 describes the four classes. Section 3 discusses derivable nets of type 0, Section 4 discusses derivable nets of type 3, Section 5 discusses derivable nets of type 2, and Section 6 discusses derivable nets of type 1. Section 7 of the article discusses a number of applications of the derivable nets. Here, applications and links to flocks in geometry occur.