A combinatorial characterization of Hermitian curves (Q686012)

A unital \(U\) with parameter \(q\) is a \(2-(q^ 3+1,q+1,1)\) design. If a point set \(U\) in \(PG(2,q^ 2)\) together with its \((q+1)\)-secants forms a unital, then \(U\) is called a Hermitian arc. For any prime power \(q\), the absolute points and nonabsolute lines of a unitary polarity of \(PG(2,q^ 2)\) form a unital that is called the classical unital. The points of a classical unital are the points of Hermitian curve \(\Gamma\) in \(PG(2,q^ 2)\). This is a curve a degree \(q+1\) which is projectively equivalent to the curve \(\Delta:X^{q+1}_ 0+X^{q+1}_ 1+X^{q+1}_ 2=0\). After Segre's famous theorem that characterizes combinatorially the conics of \(PG(2,q^ 2)\) with \(q\) odd [cf. \textit{J. W. P. Hirschfeld}, `Projective geometries over finite fields', Clarendon Press, Oxford (1979; Zbl 0418.51002), Theorem 8.2.4] some effort was made to characterize the Hermitian curves. \textit{M. Tallini Scafati} [see Rend. Mat. Appl., V. Ser. 26, 273-303 (1967; Zbl 0162.242)] conjectured that the natural condition that tangents at collinear points are concurrent characterizes Hermitian curves. The reviewed paper solves this conjecture in the affirmative. The main tool of the result is Segre's famous trick, usually called the ``Lemma of tangents''.