On regular semiovals in \(PG(2,q)\) (Q2492814)

A regular semioval is a set of points of \(PG(2,q)\) meeting every line in \(0,\) \(1\) or \(r\) points and having a unique tangent at each of its points. Examples of regular semiovals are ovals and unitals. It has been proved in [\textit{A. Blokhuis} and \textit{T. Szöny}, Discrete Math, 106/107, 61--65 (1992; Zbl 0758.51009)] that a regular semioval which is neither a unital nor an oval, has the following properties: (i) \(r\) divides \(q-1;\) (ii) \(r-1\) is not \(0\) in \(GF(q);\) (iii) tangents through points of any \(r\)-secant are concurrent; (iv) through any point out of the semioval, there are either \(0\) or \(r\) tangents and, in the latter case, the points of tangency are collinear. In this paper the author chooses the coordinates in such a way that the base point of the coordinates frame belongs to the semioval and, hence, the base lines are secants. Using this coordinatisation, the author proves that conditions (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) are never satisfied: hence any regular semioval of \(PG(2,q)\) is either an oval or a unital.