Planes and processes

Abstract

This article presented to Combinatorics 2006 is a survey of finite projective planes and the processes used to construct them. All non-translation planes are described, fundamental processes in translation planes are defined and some of these are used to connect semi-field flocks with symplectic spreads. Hermitian ovoids are connected to extensions of derivable nets, and three types of ‘lifting’ methods are discussed. Furthermore, hyperbolic fibrations and ‘regulus-inducing’ central collineation groups are connected to flocks of quadratic cones. Finally, hyper-reguli and multiple hyper-regulus replacement are considered.