Moufang's theorem for non-Moufang loops (Q284692)

A Moufang loop \((L,\cdot)\) is a loop satisfying any (and hence all) of the identities: for all \(x,y,z\in L\), \[ xy\cdot zx= x(yz\cdot x),\;(xy\cdot x)z= x(y\cdot xz),\;(zx\cdot y)x= z(x\cdot yx). \] It is well-known that Moufang loops satisfy the following theorem, called Moufang theorem: In a Moufang loop \((L,\cdot)\), the subloop generated by the elements \(x,y,z\in L\) such that \(x\cdot yz= xy\cdot z\) is a group. The problem examined in this note aims at finding loops verifying the Moufang theorem which are not Moufang loops. The author presents a class of loops satisfying this requirement. Such class of loops is obtained in the context of Steiner triple systems (STS). It is known that Steiner triple systems are strictly related to a class of loops called Steiner loops. Here, the author focuses upon a particular Steiner loop (called Hall loop) arising from a special STS, namely from a Hall triple system, that is, an STS in which every three non-collinear points generate an affine plane over the field \(\mathrm{GF}(3)\). Such loops are neither groups nor Moufang loops. The result of the paper is that oriented Hall loops of exponent 4 satisfy the Moufang theorem.