Free arrangements over finite field (Q2455340)

Let \(\mathcal A\) be a hyperplane arrangement in an \(\ell\)-dimensional vector space. \textit{H. Terao} [Invent. Math. 63, 159--179 (1981; Zbl 0437.51002)] proved that the characteristic polynomial \(\chi(\mathcal A, t)\) of a free arrangement completely factors into linear polynomials over the integers. The Terao conjecture asks the converse: does the structure of the intersection lattice \(L(\mathcal A)\) characterize freeness of \(\mathcal A\)? The purpose of the paper under review is to study this conjecture over a finite field \(F_q\) in the case \(\ell =3\). The main result asserts that if the number of hyperplanes is greater than or equal to \(2q-2\), then \(\mathcal A\) is free exactly when \(\chi(\mathcal A, q)\chi(\mathcal A, q-1) =0\).