Geometrical constructions of flock generalized quadrangles (Q5937124)

Let \({\mathbf K}\) be a quadratic cone of PG\((3,q)\) with vertex a point \(v\). A partition of \({\mathbf K}\setminus \{v\}\) into \(q\) irreducible conics is a flock of \({\mathbf K}.\) It was shown by J. A. Thas in 1987 that with a flock \({\mathcal F}\) there corresponds a set, called a \(q\)-clan, of \(q\) upper triangular matrices of order \(2\) and then by various papers of S. E. Payne and W. M. Kantor with \({\mathcal F}\) there corresponds a generalized quadrangle \({\mathcal S}({\mathcal F})\) of order \((q^2,q)\). For \(q\) odd, \textit{N. Knarr} [Result Math. 21, No. 3-4, 332-344 (1992; Zbl 0765.51006)] gave a purely geometric construction of \({\mathcal S}({\mathcal F})\) starting from \({\mathcal F}\) by using a symplectic polarity of PG\((5,q)\) and the concept of BLT-set introduced by W. M. Kantor. Later on \textit{J. A. Thas} [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 87, 247-272 (1999; Zbl 0949.51003)] found a geometrical construction of \({\mathcal S}({\mathcal F})\) that works for any prime power \(q\), using the plane model of a quadratic cone of PG\((3,q)\) and a set of elliptic quadrics of PG\((3,q)\). In the paper under review it is shown that one can derive Knarr's construction from Thas' one. To do this, a representation of the point-plane flags of PG\((3,q)\) into PG\((6,q)\) is described. Applying this representation to Thas' model of \({\mathcal S}({\mathcal F})\), another interesting model of \({\mathcal S}({\mathcal F})\) on a hyperbolic cone of PG\((6,q)\) is obtained. Finally it is shown how it is possible to obtain subquadrangles and ovoids of \({\mathcal S}({\mathcal F})\) via the description in PG\((6,q)\).