Integral automorphisms of affine planes over finite fields (Q2253095)

Given a finite field \(F_{q}\) with \(q=p^{r}\) elements, \(p\) a prime, define the norm \(N:F_{q}^{2}\to F_{q}\) by \(N(x_{1},x_{2})=x_{1}^{2}+x_{2}^{2}\). Two points \(x,y\) in the finite affine plane \(F_{q}^{2}\) are called \textit{integral distant} if \(N(x-y)\) is a square in \(F_{q}\). A permutation of \(F_{q}^{2}\) is called an automorphism if it preserves integral distance. Notice that it is not required for these maps to be affine, i.e. to preserve lines. The authors prove that in case \(q\equiv 1\pmod4\), \(q\notin\{5,9\}\), there are exactly \((q(q-1)r)^{2}\) such maps. Indeed, the existence of these maps is proved in [\textit{M. Kiermaier} and \textit{S. Kurz}, Discrete Math. 309, No. 13, 4564--4575 (2009; Zbl 1184.51009)]. The authors verify the conjecture that there are no more. It is easy to see that of these maps \(q^{2}(q-1)^{2}r\) form the subgroup of affine automorphisms. The proof makes heavy use of the theory of primitive permutation groups, in particular, the classification of finite affine groups of rank \(3\).