Classical polar spaces (sub-)weakly embedded in projective spaces (Q2365225)

Let \(W\) be a vector space over a division ring which is equipped with a non-degenerate trace valued \((\sigma, \epsilon)\)-hermitian form or a pseudo-quadratic form and let \(V\) be another vector space over some division ring. The main theorem of the article states that any injective mapping \(\pi\) from the singular points of \(W\) into the set of points of \(V\), fulfilling two natural conditions, extends to an injective semi-linear mapping \(\varphi:W \rightarrow V\). The motivation of the theorem is the following. A sub-weak embedding of a polar space \(\Gamma\) with point set \(S\) in a projective space \(P\) is an injective mapping \(\pi\) of \(\Gamma\) into the geometry of points and lines of \(P\) such that [(i)] the set \(\pi(S)\) generates \(P\); [(ii)] for any point \(x\) of \(\Gamma\), the subspace generated by \(\pi(x^\bot)\) meets \(\pi(S)\) precisely in \(\pi(x^\bot)\). (see \textit{J. A. Thas} and \textit{H. Van Maldeghem} [J. Compos. Math. 103, No. 1, 75-93 (1996)]). Fifteen years ago \textit{Ch. Lefevre-Percsy} [J. Geom. 16, 116-137 (1981; Zbl 0472.51005)] introduced the notion of a weak embedding (that is a sub-weak embedding satisfying a further condition). \textit{J. A. Thas} and \textit{H. Van Maldeghem} [loc. cit]\ proved that for non-degenerate polar spaces the concepts of a sub-weak embedding and of a weak embedding are in fact the same. Application of the main theorem to (sub-)weak embeddings shows that in fact any (sub-)weak embedding \(\pi\) of a polar space associated to a non-degenerate hermitian or pseudo-quadratic form over a division ring is already a full embedding (that is, for any line \(l\) of \(\Gamma\) the restriction of \(\pi\) to \(l\) is bijective). This result generalizes a result of \textit{J. A. Thas} and \textit{H. Van Maldeghem} [loc. cit.] classifying the non-degenerate polar spaces of rank at least \(3\) of orthogonal, symplectic or unitary type which are (sub-)weakly embedded in a finite dimensional projective space over a commutative field. The proof of the main theorem is constructive.