Geometric realization of some triangle-free combinatorial configurations \(22_3\) (Q448537)

Summary: The main purpose of this paper is to illustrate the mutual benefit to combinatorics and geometry by considering a topic from both sides. \textit{A. Al-Azemi} and \textit{A. Betten} [``Classification of triangle-free \(22_3\) configurations,'' Int. J. Comb. 2010, Article ID 767361 (2010; Zbl 1250.51008)] have enumerated the distinct combinatorial \((22_{3})\) configurations that are triangle free. They found a very large number of such configurations, but when taking into account the automorphism group of each, they found two cases in which there is only a single configuration. On the heuristic assumption that an object that is unique in some sense may well have other interesting properties, the author studies the geometric counterparts of these configurations. Several unexpected results and problems are encountered. One is that the combinatorially unique \((22_{3})\) configuration with automorphisms group of order 22 has three distinct geometric realizations by astral configurations.