Semi-ordered ternary rings (Q2276756)

Serving as the algebraic counterpart of semiorderings in affine and projective planes, a semiordering of a planar ternary ring (PTR) T is an order relation \(<\) on T fulfilling: \[ c<d\quad \Leftrightarrow \quad T(a,b,c)<T(a,b,d) \] \[ ab<ac\quad \Leftrightarrow \quad T(a,b,d)<T(a,c,d). \] Among various characterizations of semiordered PTRs, the author proves that a Cartesian group \((C,+,\cdot)\) is semiorderable, if and only if each finitely generated subgroup of \((C,+)\) is orderable. In particular, considerably extending a construction of A. Prestel, she shows that in quasifields of zero characteristic an overwhelming mass of semiorderings exists. As to the Lenz-Barlotti classification of projective planes, she points out that all non-empty classes, except IVa3, IVb3 (and I6), contain semiorderable projective planes. Therefore she starts with a formal power series skew field admitting a semiordering compatible with its natural valuation. By altering the product, she obtains examples in the higher classes, and by additionally applying Moulton's and Naumann's construction she finds examples of semiordered planes in the lower Lenz- Barlotti classes.