Polarized spaces of polar rank three which are locally a direct product (Q807975)

The author obtains some characterizations of the point-line geometries associated with buildings of type \(C_{n,n-2}\), \(D_{n,n-2}\), (n\(\geq 4)\), \(E_{7,4}\) and \(E_{8,5}\). He proves the following. Let \(\Gamma\) be a polarized space (also called parapolar space) of rank 3, in which all lines have at least 3 points. If for every line \(\ell\) of \(\Gamma\) there is a maximal singular subspace M of rank at least 2 and a hyperline H of type \(C_ 3\) on \(\ell\), such that every plane on \(\ell\) is in either M or H, then \(\Gamma\) is a quotient of the point-line geometry associated to some building of type \(C_{n,n-2}.\) If every line of \(\Gamma\) is contained in exactly 3 maximal singular subspaces which are of rank i, j and k, and moreover, all generalized quadrangles in the residue of a point are grids, then \(\Gamma\) is a quotient of the point-line geometry associated to a building of type \(D_{n,n-2}\) if \((i,j,k)=\) \((2,2,n-2),\) \(n\geq 4\) of type \(E_{7,4}\) if \((i,j,k)=(2,3,4)\) and of type \(E_{8,5}\) if \((i,j,k)=(2,4,5)\).