Subquadrangles of generalized quadrangles of order \((q^2,q)\), \(q\) even (Q5937242)

The authors classify the subquadrangles of order \((q,q)\) of any generalized quadrangle of order \((q^2,q)\), \(q\) even, arising from the construction of Tits (a \(T_3(O)\) quadrangle) or via the construction of a 4-gonal family (a flock quadrangle; in this case -- and when the quadrangle is not classical -- there is a unique base point and the classification only concerns subquadrangles containing this point). The results yield no surprises in that no new (classes of) subquadrangles are found. An interesting corollary for the flock quadrangles is that the associated herd of ovals is an invariant of the generalized quadrangle. In the last section, the authors prove that every automorphism of a non-classical \(T_3(O)\) quadrangle arises from a collineation of the underlying projective space. This is a special case of the more general result obtained recently by J. A. Thas and K. Thas (submitted manuscript) stating that every automorphism of a non-classical translation generalized quadrangle arises from a collineation of the projective space related to the construction of the quadrangle using the associated egg.