Nilpotent Singer Groups

Abstract

Let $N$ be a nilpotent group normal in a group $G$. Suppose that $G$ acts transitively upon the points of a finite non-Desarguesian projective plane ${\cal P}$. We prove that, if ${\cal P}$ has square order, then $N$ must act semi-regularly on ${\cal P}$.

In addition we prove that if a finite non-Desarguesian projective plane ${\cal P}$ admits more than one nilpotent group which is regular on the points of ${\cal P}$ then ${\cal P}$ has non-square order and the automorphism group of ${\cal P}$ has odd order.