The fundamental theorem of \(q\)-clan geometry (Q677173)

For a prime power \(q\), a \(q\)-clan is a set \({\mathcal C}= \{A_t: t\in GF(q)\}\) of \(q\) square matrices of dimension 2 over \(F\) such that for distinct \(s,t\in F\), \((a,b)(A_s-A_t) {a\choose b}=0\) has only the trivial solution \(a=b=0\). To a \(q\)-clan \({\mathcal C}\) one can associate the following geometries in a canonical way: a generalized quadrangle \(G{\mathcal Q}({\mathcal C})\) with parameters \((q^2,q)\); a flock \({\mathcal F}({\mathcal C})\) of a quadratic cone in \(PG(3,q)\); a line spread \({\mathcal S}({\mathcal C})\) of \(PG(3,q)\); a translation plane \(T({\mathcal C})\) of dimension at most 2 over its kernel. Using a natural definition of equivalence for \(q\)-clans, the fundamental theorem of \(q\)-clan geometry interprets the equivalence of \(q\)-clans \({\mathcal C}_1\) and \({\mathcal C}_2\) as an isomorphism between \(G({\mathcal C}_1)\) and \(G({\mathcal C}_2)\) where \(G({\mathcal C}_i)\) is any of the preceding geometries associated with \({\mathcal C}_i\). The author gives a self contained treatment of the fundamental theorem and proves that \(q\)-clans \({\mathcal C}_1\) and \({\mathcal C}_2\) are equivalent if and only if the generalized quadrangles \(G{\mathcal Q}({\mathcal C}_1)\) and \(G{\mathcal Q}({\mathcal C}_2)\) are isomorphic in a canonical way. Moreover, this is interpreted as projective equivalence of the flocks \({\mathcal F}({\mathcal C}_1)\) and \({\mathcal F}({\mathcal C}_2)\).