Groups of maximal arcs (Q5937125)

A maximal \(\{k, n\}\)-arc \(\mathcal{K}\) in a finite projective plane of order \(q\) is a subset of \(k = n q + n - q\) points such that every line meets \(\mathcal{K}\) in \(0\) or \(n\) points. Any point of a projective plane of order \(q\) is a maximal \(\{1, 1\}\)-arc in that plane, and the complement of any line is a maximal \(\{q^2, q\}\)-arc, (such maximal arcs are called ``trivial''). The set \(\mathcal{K}^\prime\) of lines external to a maximal arc \(\mathcal{K}\) is a maximal \(\{k^\prime, n^\prime\}\)-arc in the dual plane, where \(k^\prime = n^\prime q + n^\prime - q\) and \(n^\prime =q/n\). \(\mathcal{K}^\prime\) is called the dual of \(\mathcal{K}\). So a necessary condition for the existence of maximal arcs is that \(n\) divides \(q\). In [J. Comb. Theory 6, 317-319 (1969; Zbl 0167.49106)] \textit{R. H. F. Denniston} proved that in a Desarguesian projective plane \(PG(2, q)\) of order \(q\) this necessary condition is sufficient when \(q\) is odd. In 1998 [cf. Combinatorica 17, 31-41 (1997; Zbl 0880.51003)] \textit{S. Ball, A. Blokhuis} and \textit{F. Mazzocca} have shown that no maximal arc exists in \(PG(2, q)\) if \(4q\) is odd. There are three basic general constructions for maximal arcs in \(PG(2, q)\), which give rise to three classes of maximal arcs: the maximal arcs of Denniston which are constructed using special pencils of conics in \(PG(2, q)\), \(q\) even, and two classes due to J. A. Thas which are constructed by using ovoids and spread in generalized quadrangle \(\mathcal{W}(q)\), or quadrics and spread in projective space, respectively. In the paper under review the collineation stabilizers of the known maximal arcs in \(PG(2, q)\) are calculated, and it is shown that all of one class of Thas maximal arcs and those of the second class of Thas maximal arcs in \(PG(2, q)\) are isomorphic to those of Denniston. Finally, maximal arcs in \(PG(2, q)\) whose collineation stabilizers are transitive on the points of the maximal arcs are classified.