Affine embeddings of \((0,\alpha)\)-geometries (Q2581460)

The authors present an overview of recent results on full embeddings of \((0,\alpha)\)-geometries \(\mathcal S\) into affine spaces AG\((n,q)\). A linear representation \(T^\ast_{n-1}({\mathcal K}_{\infty})\) of a set \( {\mathcal K}_{\infty}\) assumes that \({\mathcal K}_{\infty}\) is contained in the space of infinity \(\Pi_{\infty}\) of AG\((n,q)\) and that the partial linear subspace of AG\((n,q)\) which has as line set the set of all affine lines intersecting \(\Pi_{\infty}\) in some point of \({\mathcal K}_{\infty}\). \textit{J. A. Thas} has classified all affine embeddings of partial geometries in 1978 [see Math. Z. 158, 1--13 (1978; Zbl 0351.50005)]. He showed that for \( \alpha > 1\) affine embeddings of \((0,\alpha)\)-geometries, which are partial geometries in the sense of Bose, are always linear. De Feyter recently classified all \((0,2)\)-geometries embedded in AG\((n,2^h)\). He found two new constructions of \((0,2)\)-geometries which do not have linear representations. These constructions are contained in the manuscript together with a statement of the most important theorems about affine embeddings, all of which will be published soon in a set of four publications.