Ovoid (polar space)

In mathematics, an ovoid O of a (finite) polar space of rank r is a set of points, such that every subspace of rank

intersects O in exactly one point.

[1] An ovoid of

(a symplectic polar space of rank n) would contain

However it only has an ovoid if and only

In that case, when the polar space is embedded into

{\displaystyle PG(3,q)}

the classical way, it is also an ovoid in the projective geometry sense.

Ovoids of

points.

An ovoid of a hyperbolic quadric

An ovoid of a parabolic quadric

, it is easy to see to obtain an ovoid by cutting the parabolic quadric with a hyperplane, such that the intersection is an elliptic quadric.

The intersection is an ovoid.

is isomorphic (as polar space) with

, and thus due to the above, it has no ovoid for

An ovoid of an elliptic quadric