Elation generalized quadrangles with extra automorphisms and trivial spans (Q2472838)

A thick generalized quadrangle which admits an automorphism group \(G\) that fixes some point, the elation point \((\infty)\) linewise and acts sharply transitively on the set of points not collinear with \((\infty)\) is said to be an elation generalized quadrangle (EGQ). Then \(G\) is called an elation group. A famous conjecture of W.\,M.~Kantor states that the elation group of a finite thick EGQ is a \(p\)-group for some prime \(p\). In this paper the author confirms the conjecture proving it in some special cases. His main result is the following: Let a thick EGQ of order \((s,t)\) be given, and suppose that \(\left\{(\infty),z\right\}^{\perp\perp}=\left\{(\infty),z\right\}\) for at least one point \(z\) not collinear with \((\infty)\). If the group of collineations that fix \((\infty)\) linewise does not coincide with \(G\), then \(G\) is a \(p\)-group for some prime \(p\), and \(s\) and \(t\) are powers of \(p\). Two important corollaries are deduced. If a thick EGQ of order \((s,s^2)\) has the property that the index of \(G\) in the group of automorphisms fixing all lines incident with \((\infty)\) is even, then \(G\) is elementary Abelian, and hence the EGQ is a translation generalized quadrangle. Secondly, a characterization of semifield flock generalized quadrangles is obtained.