A result on spreads of the generalized quadrangle \(T_2(O)\), with \(O\) an oval arising from a flock, and applications (Q5946645)

A flock \(F\) of the quadratic cone of \(PG(3,q)\), \(q\) even, is equivalent to a family of ovals of \(PG(2,q)\), called herd [\textit{W. E. Cherowitzo, T. Penttila, I. Pinneri} and \textit{G. F. Royle}, Geom. Dedicata 60, 17-37 (1996; Zbl 0855.51008)] and, for each oval \(O\) of the herd, the generalized quadrangle \(T_2(O)\) associated with \(O\) is a subquadrangle of the generalized quadrangle \(S(F)\) constructed from the flock. If \(M\) is a line of \(S(F)\) not in the subquadrangle \(T_2(O)\), then \(M\) defines a spread \({\mathcal S}_M\) of \(T_2(O)\). The author proves that \({\mathcal S}_M\) consists of an element \(y\) of \(O\) and of the \(q^2\) lines of \(PG(3,q)\) not in the plane \(PG(2,q)\) of the oval of \(q\) distinguished quadratic cones \(K_x\) with vertex \(x\in O\setminus\{y\}\). The proof given here is purely geometric but there is also an algebraic proof due to M. R. Brown, C. M. O'Keefe, S. E. Payne, T. Penttila and G. R. Royle. In this mainframe, one of the major problems is to decide when an oval belongs to a herd and the above property of the spread \({\mathcal S}_M\) is a necessary condition for solving such a problem.